For Pistons fans who have spent months hearing the same stale Jalen Duren trade chatter, the Atlanta Hawks at least bring something different to the table.
That was the gist of Zach Lowe’s recent mention of Atlanta as a possible Duren suitor, and it stands out because the Hawks actually have pieces Detroit would want back. In a perfect world for the Pistons, Onyeka Okongwu would be part of the return, along with other useful names - and Nickeil Alexander-Walker would be the kind of addition that could immediately change the look of Detroit’s backcourt next to Cade Cunningham.
Okongwu is the headliner in that kind of deal. His offensive growth has made him a far more interesting center option than most players who get tossed into trade speculation.
Last season, he got comfortable taking 5 threes a game and knocked down 38% of them. That kind of floor spacing would fit cleanly beside Ausar Thompson as Thompson looks to make his offensive leap.
There’s more to Okongwu than the jumper, too. He averaged more than a steal and a block per game last season, showing the kind of quickness and switchability that makes him useful in a modern frontcourt.
The concern is size, and the rebounding numbers reflect that - just 7.6 boards per game last season. Even so, Detroit has enough rebound help at other positions to make that weakness more manageable.
Alexander-Walker would be just as appealing for a different reason. He built his reputation early as a strong defender, then took a clear step forward offensively once he had more opportunity in Atlanta.
Last season, NAW averaged 21 points per game while shooting 46% from the field and 40% from three, with most of his offense coming from creating his own looks. For the Pistons, that’s the profile of a clean fit next to Cunningham.
The catch is obvious: Atlanta isn’t going to hand over those kinds of assets unless the situation pushes them there. If Duren’s negotiations drag on or he signals he won’t re-sign in Detroit, a package built around Okongwu and Alexander-Walker would be the dream outcome for the Pistons. But the Hawks would know exactly what they’re giving up, and they’d use that leverage to make the price work in their favor if Detroit got desperate.
There’s also the simple reality that both players are thriving in their current roles. Jalen Johnson benefits from their spacing and defense in ways that sound familiar for Cunningham and Thompson. Moving those skill sets for Duren could actually make things worse for Johnson in the short term, even if it raises Atlanta’s long-term ceiling.
That’s why this idea sounds so appealing on paper and so difficult in practice. The Hawks would control the terms, and that makes it hard to imagine Detroit coming out as the clear winner. It would be a major swing for Atlanta, and not one they’d take lightly.
In Other News...
Pistons Are Betting On Ausar Thompson In A Risky Tradeoff
The Pistons are asking Ausar Thompson to take on more offense next season, a push that fits the broader need for another young core piece to do more with the ball in his hands. Detroit has seen enough of his defensive gifts to know what he brings on that end, but the plan now is to stretch his game and see whether a bigger scoring role can help raise the teams overall ceiling.
Ausars path is hardly without risk, though, because a more assertive offensive approach can change the balance of everything else he does on the floor. Detroit is betting the payoff will be worth it, hoping any small slide in his defensive production is more than covered by the added offense, even if the tradeoff has the feel of a delicate one. [Read more 🡒]
Trajan Langdon Faces Big Pistons Questions Fans Need Answered
The Pistons are back together for their official media day, and for a fan base that spent much of the summer looking for signs of urgency, the questions waiting for Trajan Langdon are pretty straightforward. Detroits offseason has been quiet, the roster still feels unfinished, and the conversation has circled back to the same core issue for a team trying to build around Cade Cunningham: whether the front office did enough to add the kind of help that changes the tone of a season.
Langdon is also expected to face more pointed questions about Jalen Duren, whose contract talks have lingered in the background as the Pistons sort through their next steps. With speculation still hanging over Detroits pursuit of bigger names and more proven scoring, the tension is less about what has already happened than what the organization actually tried to make happen, and whether the teams long-term plan is as clear as it needs to be. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons May Need A Bigger Gamble To End The Jalen Duren Drama
The Pistons opened media day with one notable absence, and it left an already delicate roster situation hanging over the start of the season. Jalen Duren still has not signed a contract, which has pushed his status into a more uncertain place than Detroit would prefer for a young player the team still views as part of its core.
Around the league, the possibility of a sign-and-trade has been floating, with several teams, including the Wizards, linked to interest in Duren. Detroit has been hesitant to go down that road, but the longer this stretches, the more it feels like the Pistons may need to consider a bigger swing to break the stalemate and settle the situation before it becomes a distraction. [Read more 🡒]