The Detroit Pistons are expected to be aggressive in pursuing upgrades this offseason. After coming up short in the postseason due to offensive struggles, getting help on that end of the floor for Cade Cunningham will be a top priority.
There are plenty of stars on the trade block who could give the Pistons what they are looking for. But Detroit needs to be smart about the type of player they need to acquire. Shot creation and ball-handling are important, but they can't come at the expense of defense and shooting.
Let's take a look at some All-Star guards who the Pistons can target and evaluate their fit.
Jamal Murray
The Nuggets are in a similar situation to the Pistons. After a disappointing playoff exit, they are also looking to make sweeping changes to their roster. They need to get more physical and athletic and be better defensively.
This makes them a fascinating trade partner with the Pistons. Detroit can give the Nuggets the defense-first athletes they are looking for, like Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland. Two of Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson, and Isaiah Stewart would also need to be included in this deal, but it would be a worthy swing for the Pistons.
The Jamal Murray-Cunningham pairing would be one of the hardest duos to stop. Murray's ability to play on and off the ball is the exact skill set Detroit needs.
Kyrie Irving
A trade with the Mavericks for Kyrie Irving is also a realistic scenario. Dallas is rebuilding and has little use for 34-year-old Irving.
The All-Star guard is coming off an ACL tear, so there is some risk associated with this move. At the same time, this will lower the price for the Pistons as they should be able to trade for Irving without giving up a haul.
Irving has thrived next to Luka Doncic in Dallas. He could have a similar partnership with Cade in Detroit. Kyrie is not only an on-ball wizard, but he is also an elite off-ball player thanks to his shooting. It's hard to find a better fit next to Cunningham as long as Irving is healthy and can go back to his pre-injury form.
Ja Morant
A player being a realistic trade target doesn't actually mean it's a good one. Ja Morant is the perfect example of the type of player the Pistons shouldn't pursue this summer.
Yes, Morant would help solve Detroit's ball-handling concerns, but would create new ones. The Grizzlies guard is one of the worst volume shooters in the league. In the last three seasons, he shot 29% from three. This prevents him from being able to play off the ball, making things difficult for Cunningham.
Plus, Morant is a horrendous defender. His presence on the court will give the opponents an easy place to attack in Detroit's defense.
Add in the fact that Morant missed a total of 167 games over the last three seasons and has yet to play seven straight games since 2022, and he becomes a very questionable fit. The Grizzlies are trying to trade Morant, and he has the reputation as a star, but that doesn't mean that the Pistons should pursue him.
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