The Detroit Pistons can easily look at their 33-11 record and the fact that they have a 5.5-game lead over the second-seeded Boston Celtics and decide to stand pat at next week's NBA trade deadline. The Pistons have been playing well above expectations and have every reason to believe they are a championship contender with how their roster is constructed.
While the hesitance to change things up while the team is playing well is certainly understandable, the Pistons can't forget that there are also risks associated with not making a move. People rarely tend to think of the status quo as a risky decision, but this is a common mistake.
Just like any decision, standing pat could also backfire for Detroit general manager Trajan Langdon, so he needs to be careful about making the obvious mistake of complacency at the deadline.
Pistons Can't Be Complacent at the Trade Deadline
The regular season and the playoffs are completely different ball games. The Pistons are an elite regular-season team that will win 60 games this season. The defense that gives them a very high floor every single night deserves credit. Yet, the Pistons would be mistaken if they think their offense is good enough to win a title.
Detroit has the ninth-best offense in the league for the season, but its offensive rating has been trending downward. Since Dec. 1, they only had the 13th-best offensive rating. Since Jan. 1, they are all the way down to 18th in the league in offense.
The key to Detroit's offensive success is transition and offensive rebounding. Against a set defense in the halfcourt, the Pistons only score on 97.0 points per 100 possessions, the 17th-best mark in the NBA, per Cleaning the Glass.
The Pistons don't have enough shooting and can't get enough threes up, playing a key role in their shortcomings. In terms of percentage of their field goal attempts, only three teams shoot fewer threes than the Pistons. Besides Duncan Robinson, there isn't another dangerous shooter that defenses have to account for.
This forces Cade Cunningham to try to create against defenses that are packing the paint. Playing next to limited offensive players and spacing prevents Cunningham from reaching his potential as a scorer and playmaker.
It's not hard to imagine the Pistons struggling to score against the best defenses in the playoffs. With too many offensive liabilities, Detroit may prove to be too easy to scheme against.
That is why the Pistons need to add another high-level offensive player. Whether it's by trading Jaden Ivey, Caris LeVert, or both, the Pistons need to attach some draft capital for a talent upgrade. An elite shooter who can make things easier for Cunningham would help Pistons fans feel better about their postseason chances.