Will they or won’t they is a question fans of the Detroit Pistons will be asking until the NBA trade deadline passes in February.
The Pistons are currently in the murky area between the play-in and the dregs and the next few weeks will likely decide if they are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
The Pistons made playing meaningful games one of their goals this season, though Trajan Langdon made it clear that he wasn’t going to dismantle his young core to chase it, an ethos he will likely stick with, as the Pistons are ok, not good and certainly not a title contender.
That doesn’t mean they should not try to get better to make a run at the play-in and get their young players some meaningful reps for the first time in their careers.
If Langdon can improve the team without giving up much, that is one of many options he’ll have on his plate before the trade deadline.
The Wizards have a few players that fit into the low-cost variety who could help the Pistons transition to the next stage of their rebuild without much obligation.
According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer (subscription), the Wiz are happy to talk trades with anyone who will pick up the phone, with Kyle Kuzma’s name on the top of the list. Given the Pistons have already committed to Tobias Harris for next season, I am going to leave Kuzma out and focus on the other two.
Jonas Valanciunas
Valanciunas was one of the surprise signings of the offseason, as everyone had the Wizards pegged to tank and his addition goes against that.
JV is past his peak, but he’ll still give you nearly a double-double per night, is an efficient scorer around the rim and shoots over 90 percent from the free-throw line, an attribute the Pistons could use late in games.
He’s not a great defender in space but he can hold his own around the rim and even though his numbers have dipped this season, he’s a guy who can theoretically spread the floor (at least against the Pistons).
The problem with Valanciunas is his contract, which extends past this season, but the one after next is only partially guaranteed and he’s still a fair bargain at $10 million next year. He could essentially take the spot currently being occupied by Paul Reed, who never plays and doesn't bring the offensive punch the Pistons need.
Given his contract, it’s not likely the Wizards are going to get a big haul for their big man and if the Pistons wanted him, they could offer Washington a second-round pick and absorb his salary into their cap space.
This would give the Pistons a veteran weapon down low, a guy who could pick up the slack when Duren or Stewart gets into foul trouble or are having an off night. He’s a winner and a good teammate who would help the Pistons without costing much.
Malcolm Brogdon
Brogdon’s deal is a bit more expensive at $22 million this season, but it is expiring, so there are no long-term obligations.
In many ways, he’s what the Pistons need, as he can score and create from the wing and is comfortable on or off the ball. He’s well past his prime, but Brogdon can still blow up on a given night and provides a steady hand late in games.
He takes care of the ball and makes free throws, something that the Pistons could use along with his 3-point shooting and leadership. They could also use another scorer to complement Malik Beasley off the bench.
He’s another guy that wouldn’t cost much more than a second rounder and cap space to acquire.
If the Pistons’ goal this season is to be competitive without making a splashy move, then adding a veteran like Valanciunas or Brogdon would help get them there without sacrificing anything of real value.