The Detroit Pistons were one of the NBA‘s most pleasant surprises last season, winning 44 games and giving the New York Knicks a good run for their money in the first round of the playoffs.
Suddenly, the Pistons have hope for the first time in nearly two decades, and in a weak Eastern Conference that should be wide open next year, they should have a chance to make a serious run.
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In order to do that, though, Detroit may have to swing a major trade, and Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz may have the answer for them: Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen.
Swartz has proposed a blockbuster deal in which the Pistons would send Ron Holland, Tobias Harris, Marcus Sasser, a 2026 first-round draft pick and a 2028 second-rounder — both unprotected — to the Jazz in exchange for Markkanen, who could absolutely reshape Detroit.
Cade Cunningham #2 and Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons look at each other against the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on November 08, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.
Cade Cunningham #2 and Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons look at each other against the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on November 08, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.
Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
“His numbers took a dip last season playing for a Jazz team with no proven point guard and no desire to win on most nights, although a return to competitive basketball and joining an All-Star floor general in [Cade] Cunningham would almost certainly give him a boost,” Swartz wrote. “He shot better than 40 percent on catch-and-shoot threes his first two seasons in Utah.”
Swartz went on to add that Markkanen’s ability to space the floor would be of major benefit to a Pistons squad that hasn’t exactly been lighting it up from downtown.
“Of the 16 playoffs teams this past season, Detroit ranked 15th in made threes and 14th in accuracy,” Swartz wrote. “Markkanen would do wonders in the Pistons’ outside attack while serving as a big cutting target for the young guards on this roster to find. The Pistons are still a piece away from being a true contender in the East. Markkanen would get them there.”
Markannen averaged 19 points and 5.9 rebounds over 31.4 minutes per game on 42.3/34.6/87.6 shooting splits last season. The year prior, however, he posted 23.2 points and 8.2 boards on 48.0/39.9/89.9 splits.
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The 28-year-old is a dynamic offensive force when he is comfortable, and playing alongside of Cunningham in the Motor City would almost certainly bring out the best in him.
Whether or not Utah would actually make this trade is anyone’s guess, especially after the team just signed Markkanen to a massive contract extension last summer. But perhaps the Jazz would now prefer to get out of from under that contract and continue building through the draft.
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