The Detroit Pistons have been an utter disaster in 2023, however, the team’s owner seems motivated for his team to make some big moves before the NBA trade deadline to get far better results in 2024.
Entering the Christmas holiday, the Pistons are just two more losses away from tying the Philadelphia 76ers for the all-time consecutive losses record at 28. It is a shocking development after their 2023-24 campaign started with so much hope after the hiring of one-time NBA Coach of the Year award winner Monty Williams.
However, despite adding the Phoenix Suns coach, the team has been worse this season than they were last year. But this isn’t an underachieving group filled with proven stars. The Pistons roster is one of the youngest in the league and they have the flexibility to improve their roster now. That is something owner Tom Gores explained during a recent chat with the Detroit Free Press.
“No. 1, we have an amazing set of young players. No. 2, we have set ourselves up in the way our contracts are flexible,” Gores said. “We had all these contracts that saddled us, we couldn’t be nimble. We are also set up with a lot of cap space, and you know I’m willing to do whatever it takes for this organization to be successful. As much as the vision feels blurry, to me, it’s the same feeling I had at the beginning of the season of a bright future. I still have that.”
The Pistons have the third lowest payroll in the NBA this season at $137 million, all their first-round picks the rest of the decade, and next year’s selection could be a top-three pick. So they certainly have the assets and the cap space to bring in some impact players to try and salvage this season and begin a culture chance for 2024-25.
With that in mind, let’s look at five stars Detroit could pursue before the Feb. 8 deadline.
5 players the Detroit Pistons could swing a blockbuster trade for before Feb. 8
Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is highly likely to be moved before the NBA trade deadline. With few teams making a hard push for him, the two-time All-Star could be had at a reasonable rate than last season. LaVine would certainly give them the high-level scorer they desperately need to take the pressure off incumbent star Cade Cunningham.
Related: Longest losing streak in NBA history – Detroit Pistons on the doorstep of NBA infamy in 2023
Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby
Similar to LaVine, there is a real chance the Toronto Raptors move either Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby in the next few weeks. However, instead of being disgruntled stars, both are in the final year of their contracts and Toronto will not be re-signing both.
There is risk in the deal for Detroit, but either player would be a major upgrade at the forward positions and offer skillsets that would be good fits in Monty Williams’ system.
Draymond Green
When Draymond Green was a free agent this summer, the Pistons were one of the few teams making a hard push for him. The organization likes the idea of bringing the four-time champion back to his home state to create a championship culture in Detroit.
Green’s contract isn’t outlandish, and after being suspended for a third time this season, the Warriors are likely ready to move on and Green might be better off with a change of scenery.
Dejounte Murray
The Atlanta Hawks may be active at the trade deadline as they look to break down a group that just hasn’t worked this season. Of the possible players they could have available, Dejounte Murray would be a good fit for Detroit. A combo of Murray and Cunningham in the backcourt would certainly have some real potential if they can put the right pieces around them next summer.