Detroit Pistons Trade Deadline Preview: Real Targets, Tough Calls, and a Whole Lot of Possibilities
It’s NBA trade deadline week, and for the Detroit Pistons - yes, the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons - this year’s deadline isn’t about selling off spare parts or stockpiling second-round picks. This time, it’s about whether to make a push.
Whether to add a piece that fits alongside Cade Cunningham and the young core. Whether to be bold - or be patient.
Let’s break down some of the names being floated, the potential packages involved, and the realistic odds of something actually going down in the next few days.
Michael Porter Jr. - A Scoring Swing That Could Make Sense
Let’s start with the biggest potential swing: Michael Porter Jr.
Porter’s having a career year in Brooklyn, averaging 25.2 points per game on 48.5% shooting, including nearly 40% from three. That’s elite scoring efficiency from the wing - and it comes on volume, too.
He’s putting up almost 19 shots a night, far and away a career-high. Now, context matters.
The Nets are struggling, and with little offensive help around him, someone’s got to take the shots. Porter’s more than happy to oblige.
Still, the fit in Detroit is intriguing. The Pistons need a secondary scorer to take pressure off Cade Cunningham, especially when defenses start trapping or switching aggressively in the playoffs.
Porter’s gravity as a shooter could open up the floor and give Detroit a release valve when Cade draws extra attention. Defenders can’t sag off him - and that spacing matters.
But there’s a cost. To make the money work, Tobias Harris may have to be part of the deal.
That’s not nothing. Harris is a respected veteran in the locker room - a steadying presence for a young team still learning how to win.
Brooklyn would also likely want more: draft compensation and possibly one of Jaden Ivey or Ron Holland. That’s where things get tricky.
Porter’s never been this good before, and giving up a young asset and picks for a player who’s peaking right now carries risk.
Still, this is the kind of move that doesn’t gut the Pistons’ future - and it could raise their ceiling in the short term.
Chances of happening: Medium
Trey Murphy III - Dream Fit, But a Steep Price
Now let’s talk about Trey Murphy.
If you’re building a modern NBA wing in a lab, he might look a lot like Murphy. He’s got the size, the athleticism, and the shooting touch to make an impact on both ends.
Think young Klay Thompson vibes - a sniper with enough bounce to finish at the rim and enough length to guard multiple positions. And his contract?
Four years at $25 million per - that’s a bargain in today’s cap environment.
Murphy would be a seamless fit in Detroit. He doesn’t need the ball to be effective, he spaces the floor, and he competes defensively.
But here’s the rub: New Orleans knows what they have. They’re not letting him go for anything less than a massive haul.
We’re talking multiple first-round picks, pick swaps, and one - maybe two - of Detroit’s prized young players. Names like Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, or Jaden Ivey would almost certainly come up in talks. That’s a steep price for a team that’s tried to stay disciplined with its rebuild.
If Detroit’s front office sticks to its philosophy of not rushing the process, this likely doesn’t happen. But if they believe Murphy is a foundational piece who elevates their timeline without compromising the long-term vision, the conversation could get interesting.
Chances of happening: Low
Giannis Antetokounmpo - Just Don’t
Let’s keep this one simple.
Chances of happening: Absolutely not.
The Ball-Handler Market - Options at Varying Costs
Detroit’s backcourt rotation still needs some fine-tuning, especially when Cade sits. There’s no shortage of available guards who could provide scoring punch or steady minutes. Let’s run through a few names:
Coby White (Chicago Bulls)
White is having a breakout year, averaging 18.8 points on 45% shooting.
He’s an expiring contract, and the Pistons could absorb him into a trade exception. He’d bring instant offense off the bench and give Detroit another shot creator.
The Bulls might be willing to move him for a pick - and let’s be honest, they haven’t exactly maximized draft value in recent years.
Ayo Dosunmu (Chicago Bulls)
Dosunmu’s value is peaking.
He’s putting up a career-high 14.8 points per game and shooting over 44% from three - top-10 in the league. He’s one of the best backup guards in the NBA right now, and the Pistons have the assets to make a move if they believe in his shooting leap.
The Knicks are reportedly in the mix, and the asking price is reportedly “a lot.” But Detroit could get in that conversation.
Gabe Vincent (Los Angeles Lakers)
More of a cap-clearing move here.
Vincent’s expiring $11.5 million deal could give the Pistons more flexibility this summer. On the floor, though, the impact would be minimal.
He’s the least exciting option of the group.
Jose Alvarado (New Orleans Pelicans)
Alvarado brings energy, defense, and a bit of playmaking.
He’s on a team-friendly deal and has a player option for just $4.5 million next year. He’s not a game-changer, but he’s a proven contributor who once finished sixth in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
The question is whether New Orleans is willing to move him - and whether he wants to leave.
Jaden Ivey’s Future - A Decision Looms
Here’s the question that’s quietly hovering over everything: Will Jaden Ivey be traded?
Right now, it seems unlikely before the deadline. But long-term?
The writing may be on the wall. Detroit’s front office doesn’t appear eager to give him a major extension, and his league-wide value isn’t where it was when he was drafted.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player once viewed as a future star.
Still, there’s an argument for patience. If the Pistons wait until the offseason, they could explore sign-and-trade options and potentially build a larger deal. That might be a better path than rushing something now, especially with Ivey still showing flashes of his downhill explosiveness and ability to attack the rim.
In theory, Ivey’s skill set complements Cade Cunningham’s - a slasher who collapses defenses and takes some of the playmaking burden off the lead guard. But theory doesn’t always translate to reality, and so far, the fit hasn’t been seamless.
Odds of a deadline trade: Slightly less than 50/50 - but far from impossible.
Bottom Line
This isn’t your typical Pistons trade deadline. For the first time in a while, Detroit isn’t just trying to offload veterans or chase lottery odds.
They’re in the mix. They’re leading the East.
And they’re trying to strike the right balance between building for the future and competing in the present.
There’s pressure - and opportunity. Whether they swing big or make a smaller move around the edges, the Pistons are in a position they haven’t been in for years: buyers with a real shot to make noise.
And honestly? That beats debating which veteran to waive any day of the week.