The Detroit Pistons took a big step forward this season on the backs of their veteran acquisitions. Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, and Tim Hardaway Jr. played crucial roles as the Pistons had a 30-win improvement from the prior season.
Even though Detroit will understandably be interested in keeping its core together, including the three veterans, the front office should not be unwilling to explore options to upgrade the roster.
Exploring the trade market for Harris makes sense after the veteran forward had a solid season. The 32-year-old played above expectations on both ends of the floor, silencing his doubters. However, he is entering the final year of his contract, set to make $26.6 million for next season. Instead of offering him a long-term extension or letting him walk in 2026, the Pistons should consider selling high on him.
Attaching draft capital to the salary of Harris could net the Pistons a high-level starter. In one potential trade scenario, Detroit could acquire All-Star power forward Julius Randle by sending Minnesota Harris and their 2026 first-round pick.
With this move, the Pistons get a younger and better power forward in Randle while only sacrificing one first-round pick.
The downside here is the fact that this would require signing Randle to a new contract. The veteran scorer will likely turn down his $30.9 million player option for next season in favor of a more lucrative, long-term deal.
With this new deal, he could be a part of a sign-and-trade to the Pistons. There is a chance that the contract will not be very team-friendly, but it is a risk worth considering for Detroit to take the next step in its evolution.
For the Timberwolves, the main appeal of this trade is the added financial flexibility. They add a first-round pick for a minor upgrade from Randle to Harris, while opening up future cap space by moving on from Randle.
Randle certainly has his flaws and is not a perfect player. However, he could be an excellent secondary scorer alongside Cade Cunningham and run the Pistons' offense when their superstar is on the bench. Whether this is a direction GM Trajan Langdon will choose to go remains to be seen.