It was surprising to see the Detroit Pistons included in trade rumors involving Anthony Davis, but it tells us that team president Trajan Langdon must think his young team is close. 

Shams Charania listed the Pistons as one of three teams that would be sniffing around Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, and you can really do with that rumor as you will. 

Having interest in a player and trading for one are two very different things, and Langdon could be scared off by a price tag that included any of his best assets. 

If the Pistons were able to trade for Davis without giving up any of their young core, it would be a consideration, as Davis is a player who could help push them over the top, but if the cost is too steep, he’s too much of a risk given his injury history and massive salary. 

I have no doubt that Langdon would make a call on AD, but it’s doubtful he’s going to give up much to get an oft-injured player, as he’s been careful to avoid these types of players in his acquisitions so far. 

Even if you don’t buy into the idea of Davis as a legit target for Detroit, the very fact that Langdon is asking about him is very telling about where he thinks his young team is at the quarter mark of the season. 

The Eastern Conference is there for the Detroit Pistons to seize 

Windows close quickly in sports, ask the Pacers, who were in the Finals last season and are now the 14th seed in the East. 

Things can change quickly, and you can’t just assume your players will continue to progress and improve, as it doesn’t always happen. 

The East is as wide open as it has been in years, as there is no favorite, nor a team that is clearly better than Detroit. The Pistons might be able to win the East without doing anything, as they are currently sitting in 1st place, but adding a player like Davis would certainly make them the favorites to come out of the East. 

And from there, who knows? Everyone thinks OKC is unbeatable this season, but they will have a tough road just to get out of the Western Conference, and let’s not forget that the Pacers (who weren’t much better than the Pistons last season) took them to seven games before Tyrese Haliburton got hurt and the dream died. 

This could be the Pistons’ shot at a title, and if Detroit can land Davis without giving up any of their core, then it might be worth it. 

I’d still be shocked if this actually happened, but Trajan Langdon must think his team is close if he is already looking for players who could push them over the top.