Due to a shrinking market, a new report paints a picture that the Detroit Pistons are the new favorites to complete a blockbuster trade for star guard Zach LaVine before the NBA trade deadline.
The 2023-24 Detroit Pistons campaign has been an unmitigated disaster. Despite having Cade Cunningham back healthy and former Coach of the Year winner Monty Williams leading the team, they are heading toward one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
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With the organization on track to land another lottery pick in June, it would make sense if the front office looked to sell whatever they could before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. While that may still happen, all indications are they also would still like to improve the roster before this season comes to a close.
And one player they reportedly believe could help do that is two-time All-Star Zach LaVine.
- Zach LaVine stats (2023-24): 19.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.9 APG, 35% 3PT
Are the Detroit Pistons now the favorites to trade for Zach LaVine?
In a Friday post on Substack, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Pistons “maintain interest in LaVine” and talks between the two teams have not gone quiet while conversations with other organizations have.
Despite rumblings that the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers were contenders for LaVine, Stein claims “league sources have maintained with us for months that both teams (and several others) were unlikely to pursue LaVine because he is not yet through Year 2 of a five-year, $215 million contract.” Recent reports have claimed the market for the guard has been close to nonexistent in recent weeks.
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The league insider suggests the Detroit Pistons don’t have the same concerns about LaVine’s contract because they know they need to add impact players as soon as possible, and will likely struggle to land notable free agents this summer due to becoming a team consistently at the bottom of the NBA standings in recent years.
The Pistons also have a large amount of salary cap space to easily add LaVine’s contract going forward. While the deal is far from a sure thing, the combination of Cunningham and LaVine would be a big upgrade for Detroit this season.
