According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Pistons were very active in their pursuit of a Stretch 5 during the offseason, but that pursuit has recently ended. On a recent episode of the All NBA Podcast, Steen said the Pistons have no interest in making a big trade, even for an “ideal” piece. The Pistons’ great success early this season may have convinced the front office to appreciate their current core rather than trade away key players.
The Pistons are satisfied with their roster
The Pistons’ roster isn’t perfect, and there are certainly major weaknesses in shooting. They rank in the bottom 5 teams of the league when it comes to three-pointers. But the team is countering that weakness by emphasizing its strengths on defense and paint scoring. Getting a real Stretch 5 sounds great on paper, but it will inevitably come with some drawbacks as well.
For one, adding another center to the mix will take some minutes away from Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. Both big men have been some of Detroit’s best players this season and have been dominant individually as well as in double major lineups. His defense, especially rim protection, has been excellent and not easily matched by other centers in the league.
There’s also the question of what the Pistons would have to give up to land a big-time shooter. A common trade candidate thrown around by the Pistons is Jaden Ivey. It makes sense considering the Pistons’ record without him this calendar year: 42-22 while he was out with injury. But Ivey is now back and showing promise as a rising star.
He has played very well in his limited minutes in the two games since returning to the court, and has complemented the rest of Detroit’s core very well. Fit and chemistry are extremely important factors when rounding out a team around a core. With his years of experience on the Pistons, including his perseverance despite a historic losing streak and a devastating injury, Ivey has endeared himself to his teammates. It also doesn’t hurt that his playing style has the potential to unlock new levels for the offense by improving on cuts and outside shots.
It appears the Pistons are wisely taking a patient approach to roster construction. After building a good team from the ashes of the franchise’s worst season, the front office is in no rush to send a valuable asset away for an outside player who may not fit well with the team. They’ll likely make moves to improve at some point and move into title contention, but it seems an immediate blockbuster trade for Volume 5 is out of the question.
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