The Detroit Pistons improved to 4-2 for the season with an impressive win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. The defense continued to look solid as the Pistons put the clamps on the Mavs in the fourth quarter, holding them to 17 points, and coming away with the 122-110 win. Cade Cunningham's pick-and-roll mastery and playmaking have understandably stolen the headlines, but Jalen Duren's career night with 33 points shouldn't go unnoticed.
With Duren emerging as a true two-way force and Isaiah Stewart continuing to look like one of the best bench centers in the NBA, the Pistons may be wise to consider a trade to rebalance the team.
Jalen Duren & Isaiah Stewart's Play Could Force a Paul Reed Trade
Duren and Stewart essentially split the 48 minutes at center for the Pistons. The former is averaging 23.7 minutes per game, while Stewart is at 22 minutes. Duren's low playing time average is directly related to his ejection and foul trouble in the first two games of the season. The two bigs share the floor for a few minutes each game, but that is not a preferred look for head coach JB Bickerstaff.
This leaves very little opportunity for Paul Reed, who was a DNP-Coach's Decision once again on Saturday.
Reed is too good a role player to be left out of the rotation. Having a big man as solid as Reed but not being able to utilize him is not the best use of resources, especially when the Pistons have obvious needs elsewhere.
The 26-year-old center can't crack the rotation in Detroit even though he can be a difference-maker on both ends of the court when called upon. The third-string center for the Pistons could easily be a backup center for another team. Instead of letting Reed be forgotten in the depths of the pecking order, the Pistons should cash him in for more shooting help.
The Pistons' offense continues to lag behind their defense. They can't create enough three-point shots and can't convert the ones they create on a high enough clip. Turning Reed into a high-level shooter, in any position, can help boost Detroit's offense.
Reed makes $5.3 million this season and has a non-guaranteed salary of $5.6 million for next season. The Pistons can attach a first-round pick, plus additional salaries if needed, to this contract to get a rotation-level wing shooter. Thunder's Isaiah Joe, Celtics' Sam Hauser, and Pelicans' Jordan Hawkins are a few names that come to mind who could be available on the trade market who fit that bill.
Pistons fans love Reed, and he is a great deep bench option to have, but he is a luxury to have on this roster. Whether GM Trajan Langdon agrees and acts accordingly remains to be seen.