Even before the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, the Detroit Pistons are asked to make a ‘logical’ trade.
The Detroit Pistons finally secured a playoff berth during the 2024-25 NBA season, albeit facing a first-round exit.
To ensure that the franchise makes a deeper run, the Pistons have made several changes to their roster.
However, according to NBA expert Bill Simmons, the Pistons need to trade for Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen to elevate their team.
Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty ImagesBill Simmons explains why trading for Lauri Markkanen is ‘logical’ for the Detroit Pistons
This summer, Markkanen impressed fans with a phenomenal performance with Finland at the 2025 EuroBasket. Since then, the 28-year-old has been urged to demand a trade from the Jazz.
After all, he’s essentially wasting the prime of his career with a team that’s far from being a title contender in the Western Conference.
Keeping that in mind, NBA insider Zach Lowe named the Pistons as the perfect fit for Markkanen earlier and now, Simmons has echoed the same sentiment.
“It’s the most logical trade of the year. He can shoot, he can space and shoot, he can roll to the rim on anything, it feels to me like that, like him and Cade [Cunningham] would be perfect together,” Simmons said on his podcast.
He added: “The bigger question for me is why is he still on Utah when they clearly don’t care. All he’s gonna do is hurt them if they want to get another high pick.”
Markkanen averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game last season, but his contributions were wasted as the Jazz finished with an abysmal 17-65 record.
Michael Pina names a financial advantage for Detroit Pistons to trade for Lauri Markkanen
Right now, the Pistons have managed to successfully build a young core around Cade Cunningham.
They are currently under the second apron, but they will run the risk of breaching it once the young stars line up for massive extensions.
Keeping that in mind, Simmons’ co-host, Michael Pina, suggested flipping those young players for Markkanen, a player who is in the prime of his career.
“I know his contract is incredibly pricey and they’re gonna have to start paying their young talent pretty soon. I would swing and I would go for it because he’s in his prime,” Pina stated.
“I think he’s one of the more ideal pieces that you could add if you’re a team like Detroit that is ascending right now,” he concluded.
For context, Markkanen has entered Year 1 of his four-year, $195.8 million contract extension. Is it expensive? Yes. But is it worth taking on to potentially win a ring? Also, yes.