Could Keon Ellis Be the Missing Piece for a Pistons Playoff Push?
The Detroit Pistons are starting to look like more than just a rebuilding team. After a commanding 139-116 win over the Sacramento Kings, there’s a new layer of intrigue surrounding the franchise-and it has less to do with what happened on the court and more to do with who was in the building.
Among those in attendance at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday: members of the Kings’ front office. With the NBA trade deadline just over a week away, this wasn’t just a routine scouting trip.
Sacramento, sitting at 12-35 and well outside the Western Conference playoff picture, is in clear seller mode. And Detroit?
They’re buyers-strategically, quietly, and with purpose.
One name that’s surfaced on the Pistons’ radar is Kings guard Keon Ellis. The 24-year-old made the most of his audition, dropping 14 points and knocking down three triples in just 21 minutes.
He didn’t dominate the ball, but he didn’t need to. Ellis showed exactly what makes him an intriguing trade target: efficiency, perimeter shooting, and a knack for doing the little things that don’t always show up in the box score.
What makes Ellis especially appealing is his ability to contribute without demanding touches. He spaces the floor, plays within the system, and makes smart reads. On Sunday, he looked comfortable and confident-two things that matter for a guard who might be asked to fill a complementary role on a playoff-caliber team.
Defensively, Ellis brings even more to the table. He’s a point-of-attack defender who uses his length to disrupt passing lanes and pressure ball handlers.
Even battling through injuries earlier this month, he’s continued to bring energy and grit on that end of the floor. That kind of defensive versatility would fit nicely into Detroit’s rotation, especially for a team that’s been steadily building a culture around toughness and accountability.
But here’s where it gets tricky. The Pistons already have a crowded backcourt.
Adding Ellis would likely require moving at least one guard-maybe even two. The good news?
Ellis is on a team-friendly deal, so Detroit doesn’t need to worry about matching big salaries or clearing cap space. That opens the door for a clean, basketball-focused trade.
Names like Jaden Ivey, Caris LeVert, and Marcus Sasser naturally come up in trade talks. LeVert, a veteran with a strong connection to head coach J.B.
Bickerstaff, might be tough to pry away given their shared history. Sasser has shown flashes but remains a developmental piece.
That leaves Ivey as the most likely candidate to be moved. His upside is still tantalizing, and there are teams around the league who would love the chance to unlock the version of Ivey we saw during stretches of the 2024-25 season.
The Pistons have until Thursday, February 5 to make their move. That’s the deadline for front offices to finalize deals before the league shifts its focus to All-Star Weekend. Between now and then, Detroit’s decision-makers will be weighing fit, upside, and long-term value.
Next up, the Pistons face a big test against the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. But behind the scenes, the front office has another kind of matchup on its hands-one that could shape the rest of their season.
If Keon Ellis ends up in Detroit, Sunday’s game might be remembered not just for the win, but for the moment the Pistons found a key piece to their playoff puzzle.