With new leadership reportedly in place, the Detroit Pistons can start planning the next moves of this rebuild. With Trajan Langdon set to become the latest franchise president of basketball operations. there is a lot of help is needed to help restore the Pistons, and these three trades can help jumpstart the rebuild.
Detroit cannot afford to sit still this summer or repeat their offseason actions from the past few years. General manager Troy Weaver and the front office have been reserved with some of their resources for constructing this team. That has to change right away with Langdon in charge of the franchise direction.
The Pistons' front office needs to be aggressive and calculated this offseason, especially in the trade market. Free agency may be a difficult option to lure veterans to a young roster rebuilding from losing history. Detroit also didn't get much favorable luck in the NBA Draft Lottery when receiving the No. 5 selection for the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.
The trade avenue seems to be the most useful resource to aid the hopes of becoming a winner. There are plenty of players who could be available to swap around the league and the Pistons have pieces they can pitch to get active in discussions. Even if teams say no, they still need to at least try and see if they can land a fitting big name to help.
Brooklyn Nets Forward Mikal Bridges
Nets' owner Joe Tsai recently stated that he sees his team “at a crossroads” and indicated a desire to build a “long-term” winner. Brooklyn missed the playoffs last season finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 32-50 record. Players on the Nets' roster could be available and the Pistons should be active in those conversations.
Forward Mikal Bridges has two years left on his contract with Brooklyn and could be a suitable player to inquire about. Bridges recorded career-high scoring numbers in 27 games after being traded from the Phoenix Suns. His production took a dip down to 19.6 points per game last season but is still an impactful scorer and defender.
The Pistons need to stop relying on the development of young players. They need to find players with experience to help lift the young core along with them. Bridges' resume features an All-Star appearance, representing Team USA, making the NBA All-Defense first team, and playing in the NBA Finals.
Prying Bridges from the Nets will certainly require an expensive offer. Regardless of Brooklyn's response, the Pistons should show interest after the comments by Tsai. Bringing back the All-Star forward who previously played under Monty Williams in Phoenix could change a lot in Detroit.
Atlanta Hawks Forward De'Andre Hunter
Another team in need of a change in direction is the Atlanta Hawks. They have struggled to regain their budding success from 2020-21 when they reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Atlanta lost in the play-in tournament this past season and got eliminated in the first round the two seasons prior.
Many players on the Hawks' roster have been mentioned in trade rumors and forward De'Andre Hunter should raise some intrigue in Detroit. The five-year veteran would be a clear upgrade on the perimeter for the Pistons as an efficient complementary scorer and defender. He also has two years left on his contract priced at about $23 million per year.
Hunter's game continues to grow at 27 years old and could be a crafty veteran to add to the Pistons. Health issues have been a concern as Hunter only played 57 games last season, but his skill set and upside could be worth the gamble.
Washington Wizards Forward Kyle Kuzma
The Washington Wizards are also in rebuild mode and could be looking to start fresh after finishing 15-67 last season. That reset could mean unloading their leading scorer Kyle Kuzma in the process. Kuzma averaged 22.2 points over 70 games and has displayed some promising growth through the last few years.
A common narrative around Kuzma's game is that he puts up empty stats that do not contribute to winning. That seems due to the state of his franchise more than the value of his stats. His circ*mstance has similarities to the likes of Cade Cunningham with the Pistons. They both have budding potential and could have more meaning to their numbers on a franchise ready to win.
Kuzma, like Cunningham, should not be the lone primary scorer on a team. His offensive skillset would help draw attention away from the franchise point guard who faces double teams at an alarming rate. The Pistons badly need another reliable offensive creator and the 29-year-old Flint native could be an answer.
