The Orlando Magic’s 2-7 start has put a spotlight on a situation Detroit Pistons fans should be watching closely.
Orlando came into the season hoping a new coach would help clean up its offensive problems after nearly knocking the Pistons out in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, the Magic have been hit by injuries that have only made things messier. Paolo Banchero could miss the entire month of November, and Jalen Suggs is expected to be out for several weeks.
That matters because even before the injuries, there were already questions about how Banchero fit with former University of Michigan forward Franz Wagner. If Orlando is still buried in the standings when Banchero returns, the front office may decide it’s time to break up the pair and move one of its stars.
That possibility is more real because of the money involved. The Magic have one of the most expensive rosters in the league and still need to sign Anthony Black, yet the team currently looks like a play-in group at best. If the slide continues, someone is likely to be traded.
If Orlando makes either Banchero or Wagner available, there will be no shortage of interest. Detroit should be in that mix, because Wagner would check off two major boxes for the Pistons.
He’d give them a long-term answer at power forward, something they still don’t have. John Collins’ deal isn’t guaranteed beyond this season, and with Jalen Duren out, Collins has struggled so far.
Wagner is under contract for three more seasons after this one, which would lock in Detroit’s core for the long haul and keep its title window open for the foreseeable future.
He’d also solve the Pistons’ need for a secondary creator and scorer. Wagner is averaging 20 points per game and a career-high 8.8 assists while running Orlando’s offense this season.
He’s not a strong 3-point shooter, but he is a legitimate second option who can handle real offensive responsibility. There would be spacing questions, but Detroit has better shooters now to help cover that up, and Wagner would be a difficult matchup next to Cade.
The problem, of course, is the price.
Landing Wagner would probably require most of Detroit’s trade assets, and his contract is hefty for a player who has already dealt with plenty of injuries in his career. He’s owed more than $142 million over the next three seasons after this one, which would make this an all-in swing.
To get there, the Pistons would likely have to include at least John Collins, Ron Holland and another player just to make the salary work. And that’s before the Magic ask for 4-5 first-round picks.
It would be a dangerous move for Detroit, especially because this is the kind of trade a team only gets one shot to make. If the Pistons go down that road, they have to nail it.
In Other News...
Jalen Duren Update Gives Pistons Hope With One Big Catch
Jalen Duren is finally back on the court in some capacity, which is a welcome development for a Pistons team that has been waiting on its young center since he strained his right hamstring in the Oct. 23 game. Detroit says Duren has moved into on-court activities as part of his rehab, and the early signs are encouraging enough to include dribbling and shooting work as he builds back toward full basketball activity.
The catch, of course, is that this is still only a step in the process, not a return date. The Pistons have already said they will give another update in two weeks, leaving the next checkpoint as the one that matters most for a team that could use Durens size, energy and interior presence back in the rotation as soon as it is safely possible. [Read more 🡒]
Ausar Thompson Is Giving The Pistons A Tough Rotation Decision
Ausar Thompsons work on the glass has become one of the more intriguing developments in Detroits rotation as the Pistons continue to sort out how they want to play. Against the 76ers, he grabbed 17 rebounds and helped keep the team competitive on the boards even with Jalen Duren out, a reminder that Thompsons athleticism is showing up in ways that matter beyond the box score.
The bigger question for the Pistons is how that skill fits once the roster is whole again. Thompson is averaging a career-high 8.6 rebounds per game, and his presence is giving Detroit a real argument for using more smaller lineups without giving up too much interior toughness. With the team trying to balance added shooting and better spacing against the need to hold up inside, Thompsons rise has made the rotation picture a little more complicated than it looked a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Waste A Winnable Night Against A Luka-Less Lakers Team
The Pistons had a chance to bank a useful home win against a Lakers team missing Luka Doncic, and for stretches they looked capable of taking it. Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter gave Detroit a lift off the bench, but the night never fully turned in the Pistons favor as the starting group had trouble finding a rhythm on offense.
Austin Reaves made sure Los Angeles did not waste the opening, pouring in 43 points to carry the Lakers to a 121-116 win. For Detroit, the frustration is less about one bad quarter than the broader pattern of letting a winnable game slip away when the matchup seemed there to be seized. [Read more 🡒]