The Detroit Pistons have held down their surprising perch at the top of the NBA's Eastern Conference standings all season long. They're 47-18, and hold a 4.5 game lead on the Boston Celtics.
Are they one of the favorites to come out of the East? Undoubtedly. But rising up from practically out of nowhere all the way to the top in the NBA is not a linear thing. Teams usually need to experience some sort of heartbreak in the playoffs first before they can rise up and get over the hump to win it all.
Yes, the Pistons did make a huge improvement last season to finish sixth for their first appearance in the playoffs in six years. But they were wiped out in the first round. They still need to make a deeper run first to get that experience they need to make it to the top of the hill.
So, assuming they need to go out and make some adjustments this offseason, let's have a look at three trade targets for the Pistons to look at this summer, courtesy of Dan Favale of Bleacher Report.
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Trey Murphy III
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
"They need someone(s) who can open up the half-court and make life easier on Cade Cunningham," writes Favale. Both Porter and Murphy can certainly create offense for themselves, taking some of the defensive pressure off the Pistons' superstar. Porter is averaging a breakout 24.2 points per game for the Brooklyn Nets this season in his first alpha role. Murphy is averaging 22.1 ppg for his second straight season over the 20 mark.
Alexander-Walker has exploded this season, doubling his points average from the last couple of years to soar to 20 ppg, while also providing elite perimeter defense and floor-spacing from three-point land.
The first two names were out there on the rumor mill back before the trade deadline, but the Nets didn't get an offer that made them bite on Porter, and the Pelicans were reluctant all along to part with Murphy. But both teams are in the early stages of a rebuild and would be able to get some nice assets for either of them.
Whether the Hawks would want to move on from such a key part of their team, on both sides of the ball, is a more difficult question. With burgeoning superstar Jalen Johnson, plus the addition of Jonathan Kuminga, and the subtraction of Trae Young, the Hawks find themselves on the verge of a serious move up the Eastern ladder. It's doubtful they would want to help the Pistons.
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