The Detroit Pistons are the best team in the Eastern Conference right now. J.B. Bickerstaff's arrival has worked wonders for this team, and even with Jaden Ivey still out, they're looking like a legitimate threat right now.
Then again, as promising as things have been so far, this is still a young team. As such, the front office will have to target some veterans to help carry the load when it matters the most. And, with all the players who signed new contracts being eligible to be traded on December 15th, the Pistons might have some options to choose from. Here, we'll take a look at the three players on that list that might make the most sense.
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3. Gary Trent Jr.
The Milwaukee Bucks were uber aggressive in the offseason, but they're struggling to stay afloat. Gary Trent Jr. has started 12 of 18 games for them and averages 28.0 minutes a night, but if they want to shake things up, he might be one of the odd men out.
Trent Jr. is a solid defender who has made a living thanks to his sharpshooting skills. He could be a prime floor-spacer for a Pistons team that doesn't have that much shooting right now, especially beyond the arc.
He's a career 39 percent shooter from beyond the arc, and he'd bring plenty of playoff experience to the table. Again, he might only be feasible if the Bucks believe the season is starting to slip and want to make some personnel changes.
2. Kevon Looney
Kevon Looney is a three-time NBA champion with proven playoff pedigree. While his role has fluctuated, he's always been the type of hard-working player who does the dirty work; all the little things that don't show on the stat sheet.
Of course, the Pistons should be all set for the future with Jalen Duren. That being said, Looney has proven to be an elite interior defender. He has held his ground against the most physical and talented scoring bigs in the game.
Looney might welcome a move away from the slumping New Orleans Pelicans. He can be a factor against players like Karl-Anthony Towns in a potential playoff series, and it shouldn't take much to get him to Motor City.
1. Cam Thomas
Last but not least, we find Cam Thomas. His free agency was quite disappointing, and he wound up settling with a $6 million qualifying offer to return to the struggling Brooklyn Nets. He also has a no-trade clause in his contract, but given how things fared between him and the franchise, it's hard to believe he wouldn't waive it to play somewhere else.
Thomas might not be much of a playmaker or play defense, but he's one of the most gifted bucket-getters in the game. He can provide an instant offensive spark off the bench for any team, and he's more than capable of having an offensive explosion on any given night.
The Nets have a surplus of guards right now, and they don't seem to be that high on Thomas. He'd be a low-risk/high-reward pickup, and if things don't work out, the Pistons can simply let him walk away in unrestricted free agency.