{"id":111849,"date":"2024-12-14T06:00:33","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T11:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=111849"},"modified":"2024-12-13T23:38:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T04:38:00","slug":"potential-trade-targets-help-pistons-add-offensive-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/14\/potential-trade-targets-help-pistons-add-offensive-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential Trade Targets To Help Pistons Add Offensive Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

After an impressive win against the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons<\/a> couldn\u2019t maintain momentum, suffering a 123-99 loss to the Boston Celtics. Ron Holland<\/a> delivered his best performance of the season, scoring 26 points, while Cade Cunningham<\/a> filled the stat sheet with 18 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. However, the Pistons\u2019 offense stalled, shooting just 7\/37 from three-point range<\/a>\u2014their worst performance of the season.<\/p>\n

This game highlighted a glaring issue for Detroit: the need for another reliable scorer. While the young core<\/a> excites fans about the future, their potential could open the door for a trade to secure a proven second option alongside Cunningham. With the Pistons currently sitting outside the top 10 in the Eastern Conference, who should they look to trade for, and how would these moves impact their season? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n

Potential Trade Targets To Help Pistons Add Offensive Power<\/h2>\n

Pistons Trade Target: Zach LaVine<\/h3>\n

When it comes to player-team rumors, Zach LaVine<\/a> has been a Pistons trade target<\/a> for several seasons. After playing in just 25 games last season, LaVine is already on pace to surpass that, having appeared in 22 of the Bulls\u2019 25 games this year. He\u2019s averaging 22.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on an impressive 50\/40\/80 shooting split, with career-best percentages from the field and beyond the arc.<\/p>\n

LaVine gave the Pistons a taste of what he could bring during their November 18th matchup. After scoring just 10 points through three quarters, he exploded for 18 points in the fourth, shooting 6\/8 from three. That kind of scoring burst could be invaluable for Detroit, giving Cunningham a much-needed offensive partner to alleviate defensive pressure. LaVine\u2019s ability to score off the dribble, hit tough shots, and space the floor aligns perfectly with the Pistons\u2019 need for a reliable second option.<\/p>\n

However, questions remain. The Bulls are firmly in the mix for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, making a midseason trade for LaVine less likely unless their season takes a sharp turn. Furthermore, the Pistons would need to weigh LaVine\u2019s injury history against his undeniable talent. Could the Pistons construct an appealing trade package without sacrificing too much of its young core or draft capital? While the fit is clear, the timing and cost are far less certain.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Kc6q42fKlIU<\/p>\n

Brandon Ingram<\/h3>\n

When Trajan Langdon took over<\/a> as Pistons President, rumors swirled about Brandon Ingram<\/a> potentially becoming a trade target. Since joining the Pelicans, Ingram has averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on efficient 47\/37\/84% shooting. Despite his strong production, New Orleans has hesitated to offer him the extension he desires, citing salary cap constraints. Ingram reportedly<\/a> declined a $50 million offer in 2023 and turned down $40 million this past offseason.<\/p>\n

Ingram has been effective against<\/a> Detroit, averaging 19.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in nine career games. His ability to create offense, both as a scorer and a playmaker, makes him an ideal complement to Cunningham. He would also address the Pistons\u2019 glaring need at small forward, a position that has lacked consistency in recent years.<\/p>\n

Given the Pelicans\u2019 cap challenges and underwhelming results, the Pistons could potentially trade for Ingram without sacrificing a significant portion of its young core or draft capital. However, his injury history, including his current ankle issue, raises concerns about his durability. Still, when healthy, Ingram is a proven scoring option who could take pressure off Cunningham and elevate the Pistons\u2019 offensive ceiling. The question remains: is the potential reward worth the risk?<\/p>\n

Malcolm Brogdon<\/h3>\n

No matter where Malcolm Brogdon<\/a> has played during his nine-year NBA career, he has been a steady contributor. With career averages of 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, Brogdon has consistently outperformed expectations for a second-round pick. Now with the Wizards, he\u2019s averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in nine games this season.<\/p>\n

Brogdon would be an excellent trade target for the Pistons, particularly given their need for stability<\/a> at point guard. While Cunningham has shown improved decision-making in recent games, his 4.6 turnovers per game tie him for the league lead. Brogdon, a career 1.7-turnover-per-game player, excels at initiating offense with care, making him an ideal partner for Cunningham. His presence would allow Cunningham to play off the ball more frequently, easing the playmaking burden.<\/p>\n

In addition to his playmaking, Brogdon\u2019s 39% career three-point shooting aligns perfectly with the Pistons\u2019 desire to improve spacing. His ability to knock down shots and run the offense would benefit both the starting unit and the bench. While his injury history may raise concerns, the veteran guard\u2019s skill set and leadership could bring much-needed balance to Detroit\u2019s young roster. The question is whether the Wizards, amid their rebuild, would be willing to trade Brogdon\u2014and what the Pistons might need to offer in return.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/h3>\n

The Detroit Pistons find themselves at a crossroads. While their young core has shown flashes of potential, it\u2019s clear they need additional firepower to take the next step. Players like Zach LaVine, Brandon Ingram, and Malcolm Brogdon each offer unique skills that could elevate the team. LaVine\u2019s explosive scoring, Ingram\u2019s versatility, and Brogdon\u2019s stability and efficiency address different needs for Detroit. However, each comes with considerations\u2014whether it\u2019s fit, health, or trade cost.<\/p>\n

With the Pistons outside the playoff picture, the front office must balance adding a scorer and developing young talent. The right move could accelerate their rebuild, but it must align with their overarching goal of building a sustainable contender. Whatever path they take, the Pistons\u2019 next move will heavily influence their team\u2019s future trajectory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After an impressive win against the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons couldn\u2019t maintain momentum, suffering a 123-99 loss to the Boston Celtics. Ron Holland delivered his best performance of the season, scoring 26 points, while Cade Cunningham filled the stat sheet with 18 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. However, the Pistons\u2019 offense stalled, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5168,"featured_media":112075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1608,62],"tags":[308,3965,609,49172,457],"class_list":["post-111849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pistons","category-basketball","category-nba","tag-brandon-ingram","tag-cade-cunningham","tag-malcolm-brogdon","tag-ron-holland","tag-zach-lavine"],"modified_by":"Jacob Stephens, Associate Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111849"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":112037,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111849\/revisions\/112037"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}