Wonky Pistons trade proposal lands high-cost controversy

Depending on what happens in the playoffs, the biggest question lingering over the Detroit Pistons this summer is whether they will cash in some of their talent and draft assets for an impact scorer. 

There will undoubtedly be players available, so Detroit has to decide how much they really need and try to find upgrades that don’t cost them too much (or any) or their young core. 

That’s what happens in a recent trade proposal from our friend Zach Buckley at Bleacher Report, which has the Pistons adding impact without including any of their most coveted assets: 

LaVine is a player who has been attached to the Pistons in the past, and it makes sense, as he represents the type of efficient scoring and secondary creation Detroit could use. 

LaVine averaged 20 a game on 48/39/88 shooting splits this season, but the fact that statement is in the past tense shows the biggest problem the Pistons would have when it comes to trading for Zach LaVine 

The true cost of a Zach LaVine trade 

On one hand, the idea of consolidating some role players to land a more impactful scorer is not a bad idea at all. LeVert will be on an expiring contract, Robinson’s is only partially guaranteed, and Sasser hasn’t played much this season anyway. They wouldn’t be giving up a first-round pick, and Detroit has a plethora of extra second rounders, so this is a deal that wouldn’t disrupt the young core at all. 

LaVine is also heading into the last year of his deal, a player option for $48 million that he’ll almost certainly accept, as he’s not going to sniff that number on his next contract. He doesn’t represent any long-term obligation, so if the Pistons wanted to take one shot with LaVine, it wouldn’t be that costly or risky. 

Except for the fact that LaVine has a lengthy injury history, including being shut down for season-ending surgery after only 39 games this season. LaVine’s season is a microcosm of his career, as he was great early on, scoring 30+ points in the first six games of the season, but doing it for a bad team. 

He was missing significant time by December and out for good by the beginning of February.  This is why LaVine has always been a controversial player even though he is very talented. He's never proven he can contribute to a winning team and he's an injury risk.

Even if LaVine doesn’t represent long-term financial risk, $48 million is a huge cap slot to be allocated to one guy if he’s only going to play half the season. If you get the LaVine that played 74 games, great, if you get the guy who has played 47, 24, 58, 23 or 39 games at various times in his career and it’s a disaster. 

Even though Robinson, LeVert and Sasser aren’t likely parts of the long-term plans, they still represent a lot of depth and minutes that the Pistons would have to find somewhere and LaVine is not guy you can count on for that, especially when he’s coming off a surgery. 

If the Pistons are going to make a splash, they have to find a player who fits their ethos, and LaVine doesn’t, especially on the defensive end and when it comes to staying healthy. 

It’s an interesting idea and probably on the right path for what the Pistons will do, but it’s hard to see them taking a risk on a player like LaVine.