The Detroit Pistons are coming off one of the better single-season turnarounds in NBA history. After improving by 30 wins, they went from last in the Eastern Conference to the No. 6 seed in the NBA Playoffs.
They pushed the New York Knicks to six games and every game was close. In fact, the Pistons often led going into the fourth quarter.
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Detroit had a chance to possibly extend Game 6 and the series when Cade Cunningham passed to an open Malik Beasley for what would’ve been a game-tying 3-point attempt.
Unfortunately, Pistons fans will be left wondering “what if?” after the pass went through Beasley’s hands and out of bounds.
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Pistons suggested to trade for former Top 3 pick
The Pistons will surely look to improve upon last year’s mark.
While the team has pending free agents, the Pistons are likely already on the lookout for players they should trade for
Of some of the names mentioned, one stands out: former No. 3 overall Jabari Smith Jr.
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Smith Jr. possesses a lot of traits, particularly his length and shooting ability that should make him an attractive asset for Detroit to consider.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley details what would make him such a good fit for the Pistons.
“His offensive game still has plenty of room to grow, and he has enough length and instincts to become a more intimidating shot-blocker,” Buckley wrote. “He has, in other words, a solid base with multiple avenues for expansion.
“The Pistons could be wise to make a move for Smith—probably in a multi-team deal that sends an established star to Houston and long-term assets elsewhere—and allow him to grow alongside their core.”
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It’s unclear exactly what the Pistons would have to give up to the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets are in a similar position after being bounced from the playoffs in the first round, so a trade could be mutually beneficial in different areas of the respective teams, as long as the price was right.