While the Detroit Pistons are in the midst of an intense playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, most of the league is in offseason mode. That means that trade chatter will get increasingly louder over the next few months.
The biggest name on the trade block is once again Giannis Antetokounmpo. This time, his exit from Milwaukee seems imminent, as ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday that the Bucks are listening to trade offers and hope to get a deal done between now and the NBA Draft.
Up until now, the Pistons have been hesitant to make a big swing for Antetokounmpo. Detroit was happy with the core they had at the trade deadline and wanted to see it through. If the Pistons come up short in the playoffs, however, the Antetokounmpo buzz in Detroit will be difficult to ignore.
A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade should be on the table for the Pistons this summer
The Pistons can beat any trade offer for Antetokounmpo. Not only do they have control of all of their own first-round picks going forward, but they also have multiple intriguing young players. Plus, Detroit will have cap space this summer, so they can bring Antetokounmpo in without having to match salaries exactly in a trade.
A trade package built around Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, and draft capital could be the strongest offer the Bucks will receive. Assuming Detroit will retain Jalen Duren in free agency, the Pistons will have a Cade Cunningham-Giannis Antetokounmpo-Jalen Duren trio for years to come.
Acquiring Giannis also has the benefit of making sure another Eastern Conference rival doesn't trade for him. Both the Knicks and the Celtics have been connected to the two-time MVP, and if either team gets him, they would likely be the favorite over the Pistons over the next couple of years.
This would require Antetokounmpo to want to come to Detroit. Since he is entering the final year of his contract, he can control where he ends up. If he says that he is unwilling to sign a new contract with the franchise that acquires him, he could limit his market to places where he wants to be long-term.
Whether the Pistons would be one of those teams is unclear. Coming to Detroit would certainly give him an excellent chance at championship contention for a long time. The Pistons would also give him the contract extension he is looking for. If his priority is to contend and win championships, the Pistons would be a good fit. The Bucks would also want to trade Antetokounmpo to Detroit since they would be getting a great return.
The Pistons may shut this chatter down by going all the way to the NBA Finals. It will be hard to justify such a drastic change in that scenario. If they flame out against the Cavs, however, GM Trajan Langdon will be facing a ton of pressure to swing for the fences in the offseason. And there may not be a more appealing swing than Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer.
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