The Eastern Conference projects to be wide open in the foreseeable future. The uncertainty surrounding the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks creates an opening for teams to follow the path of the Indiana Pacers and make a sneaky run to the NBA Finals.
This means that the Detroit Pistons will also have a chance to take a massive step forward next season. Following their 30-win improvement under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff from the season prior, the Pistons need to add to their roster around Cade Cunningham to be a true contender.
One path they could follow is swinging an unexpected trade for Kevin Durant. The Phoenix Suns are shopping KD, and a trade involving him is imminent, per the latest reports. The Suns are reportedly looking for the best trade package in return, regardless of Durant's demands. That makes a potential Pistons offer for Durant an appealing option for the Suns.
A mock trade scenario in which Detroit sends Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Simone Fontecchio, and two unprotected first-round picks to Phoenix for Durant should be enough to get a deal done. The first rounders may be appealing for the Suns, considering that KD likely only has a few more elite seasons left in him. They also get two solid starters in Harris and Stewart, and a decent bench player in Fontecchio, who could all contribute next season if the Suns wanted to stay competitive.
For the Pistons, this trade would immediately make them an Eastern Conference contender. Durant is the perfect Cade Cunningham partner who could take some of the offensive burden he shoulders.
At the same time, a big swing for a soon-to-be 37-year-old is certainly risky. The Pistons would retain their young talent after this trade and could have the flexibility to make more moves, but this is still a lot to give up for a player of that age. If the Pistons can acquire KD with one fewer first rounder or by putting some protections on those picks, that would be the ideal scenario. Whether that would be enough to win the Durant sweepstakes, however, remains to be seen.