While the Pistons grapple with the existential question of making a big trade, their Western Conference rival Rockets have already shown them the right timing for such a move. The Rockets acquired Kevin Durant last offseason in a blockbuster move after using a playoff run to evaluate their young core. For the Pistons, this season’s playoffs should offer them an opportunity to do the same before deciding what upgrades need to be made.
The Rockets waited until the offseason to get Durant
The Rockets had a strong regular season last year with some obvious flaws on their roster. Their halfcourt offense clearly needed help, but they stood pat at the trade deadline. Instead, they waited for better options to open up over the summer and it paid off with a future Hall of Famer still capable of putting up big numbers.
The Pistons’ own flaws have started to reveal themselves in their lack of shooting and offensive creators outside of Cade Cunningham. The temptation to make an instant upgrade during the season is strong, especially because the Pistons have done so well in the East. It seems like the Pistons could prime themselves for a Finals run with just one big swing.
But the Pistons must acknowledge their structural flaws in spite of the tremendous success and good luck to start the season. They still haven’t gotten a proper chance to evaluate all their young pieces in a playoff setting due to unfortunate injury timing last season. The Pistons front office is likely to hold off on a big trade until they’ve had that chance in the upcoming postseason.
Another similar example lies in the Pistons’ own conference with the Orlando Magic. The Magic have made the playoffs multiple seasons in a row but fallen short due to their lack of shooting. Finally, after one too many early exits, they made a big move to acquire Desmond Bane.
Bane has proven the difference this season as he’s providing another reliable scoring option and an outside threat that’s rarely been seen in Orlando for a decade. The Magic paid a big price to get him, but he could prove his worth in the playoffs when defenses will do all they can to shut off the Magic’s stars.
If this season’s playoffs once again show that the Pistons need more offensive help for Cade, then the front office should have their priorities set for the offseason. At that point, it’ll be high time to make a big deal and get Cade the costar he needs. It might come at the cost of some young pieces and/or valuable draft picks, but it’ll be necessary for Detroit to take the next leap.