When Troy Weaver took over as general manager of the Detroit Pistons, his first move was to fire everyone, garnering him the nickname Troy Reaper.
He had no feelings for the guys on the team he inherited, so it made sense to start over with a blank slate.
The Pistons were in better or worse shape when Trajan Langdon took over, depending on who you ask, and many questioned if he, too, would cut players he didn’t select, sign, or trade for himself.
The Pistons answered a portion of that issue by giving Cade Cunningham a max extension, but what about the other young players? Are they regarded untouchable in a trade?
The Detroit Pistons can’t keep them all
It will be difficult for the Detroit Pistons to keep all of the young guys on their roster.
Not only are there fit issues, but both Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren will be available for extensions next summer, which would result in a significant investment in unproven players.
They may make that decision simpler by having breakout seasons, but in either case, the Pistons could find themselves in a financial bind with the majority of their cap space locked up in three players who haven’t won anything (yet) and aren’t good fits together.
The following year, Ausar Thompson’s contract is extended. Then Ron Holland. You understand the point.
Trajan Langdon has also discussed taking on asset contracts, and he does so in the proposed trade with the New York Knicks.
Proposed trade between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons
So far, the “apron” has been the star of free agency, forcing teams to make moves, stifling the market, and driving teams to make frantic transactions to slash salaries.
The Pistons are one of the only teams left with cap space, so they can provide financial relief for a price. This recommended transaction, which comes from James Edwards III of The Athletic (Subscription), gives Langdon some assets to work with, but at a high cost:
In this transaction, the Pistons sell two young players to the Knicks in return for a seasoned center, a backup point guard, and their own 2025 first-round selection.
It’s difficult to envision the Knicks saying no to this, even if it means losing some depth and being very thin at the center. However, it might place them under the apron and open up new methods to spend money, like the mid-level exception.
The two players would hurt more than giving up the selection, which may never reflect the Pistons’ current direction. It’s still tightly protected in ways that make it unlikely to move to the Knicks after next season, and possibly even sooner depending on how rapidly Detroit improves.
But how about the Pistons? Would they really send out these two players for such a pitiful return?
A tough call for the Detroit Pistons
This would be a difficult trade for the Pistons to complete because they are sending not one but two developmental players to the Knicks, Ivey and Duren, both of whom have showed flashes of stardom.
Duren is only 20 years old, therefore it would be premature to give up on a player who already averages a double-double.
The Pistons would be significantly better off with a rim protector like Robinson and a strong 3-and-D guard like Miles McBride. In the near run, this benefits the Pistons, since both players are on affordable contracts. Robinson will only play two more seasons, whereas McBride will play three, at a great price for a 23-year-old who is an effective shooter and has already contributed to a very successful squad.
The Pistons’ roster would be nearly complete, plus they’d have all of their future draft picks, something Troy Weaver never accomplished. Not only is 2025 a better draft than this year, but it might allow Detroit to package multiple picks in a deal, which they are now unable to do due to the one they owe the Knicks.
I’m not as fond of Ivey and Duren as some fans are, but I wonder if this is the best they could accomplish with both of them.
They’re getting two quality role players and a first-round selection, but is there a better trade available?
Pistons supporters would be furious if they made a transaction like this, but we must remember the lessons of previous prospects, which are that if you hold onto the wrong ones for too long, they lose all value; just ask Saddiq Bey or Killian Hayes.
The question is whether this is sufficient to make the bet. I’d consider it, but with concerns.
