Detroit Pistons: Players to trade or retain at the NBA deadline

Should the Detroit Pistons trade or retain Mason Plumlee?

Again, I became less than optimistic when Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver seemingly continued to stockpile a roster full of centers on the first day of free agency.

I had a sour taste in my mouth only because I held out hoping the organization would come to an agreement to extend Christian Wood to a multi-year deal.  Wood signing with a three-year deal that averages just $13.6 million per season only added fuel to the fire in my eyes.

As it turns out, I’d prefer to have both Grant and Wood, but Mason Plumlee is proving to be an extremely affordable, hard-working starting NBA center for the Pistons.

Plumlee is averaging 10.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, along with a career-high 3.8 assists per game during his first season in a Pistons uniform.  Plumlee is the heartbeat in the middle of the court for Detroit, and his willingness to be unselfish, paired with a high basketball IQ and court vision, has become a massive bonus for this team.

Plumlee is a 31-year old center that signed a three-year deal worth $24.6 million this past Winter.  The veteran center carries a very reasonable cap number, plus he is proving to be a valuable asset to rookie center Isaiah Stewart.

Plumlee isn’t elite on the board, but he’s proven to be a valuable depth scorer for the Pistons and the 19-year old Stewart the opposite.  Stewart is a tenacious rebounder, and as he develops his scoring touch over the next year or two will undoubtedly become a starting center for this Detroit team.

There is no real reason to trade Plumlee, knowing the return for his services won’t be substantial.  With Okafor unable to remain healthy, the Pistons can ill-afford to move Plumlee without getting a big-man in return.

At this point, Plumlee is more valuable on the Detroit roster than a future late second-round pick.