The Detroit Pistons are entering a crucial week. As we approach the Feb. 5 trade deadline, what the Eastern Conference leaders will do will be fascinating to watch. Will they stand pat and see how far this team can go, or will they aggressively pursue upgrades with the hopes of establishing themselves as a title favorite? This decision is certainly not easy, but the latest rumored target suggests that GM Trajan Langdon is missing the mark in what he is looking for.
ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported on Monday that the Pistons "don't want to shake up their core group too much," but "Herb Jones has been a key name associate with Detroit as of late."
Herb Jones Is an Excellent Role Player But Isn't What the Pistons Need
Siegel adds that the Pistons are willing to move on from Jaden Ivey, suggesting that a potential Herb Jones trade would include Ivey and draft capital. The Pistons have plenty of assets, so Ivey plus a first-round pick wouldn't hurt them in the long run. The bigger issue is that a defense-first wing like Jones is the last thing the Pistons need.
The Pistons are already an elite defensive team. They have multiple defensive stalwarts on the wing like Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland, and one of the best defensive bigs in the league, in Isaiah Stewart. Adding Jones into that mix would create an embarrassment of riches without really solving the main issue plaguing this team.
The Pistons have the league's 17th-best offensive rating in 2026. While they have by far the best defensive rating in the same span, they have been a below-average unit offensively. They don't take or make enough threes, which cramps the spacing around the Cade Cunningham-Jalen Duren two-man game.
Jones is not a good offensive player. Since the start of last season, he has made 31.4 percent of his 3-pointers on 3.9 attempts per game. He is currently in the midst of his least productive season, averaging 9.1 points per game, and his least efficient campaign, as shown by a miserable 49.3 percent True Shooting.
The Pistons can't afford to add another offensive liability to their rotation. Jones is one of the most versatile defenders and best point-of-attack stoppers in the NBA. For a contender that needs defensive chops and has enough shooting, he would be an excellent fit. Detroit is not one of those contenders.
Plus, Jones may be on a team-friendly contract right now, making $13.9 million this season. But his extension kicks in before the 2027-28 season, which will pay him $20.8 million, followed by $22.5 million in the 2028-29 season. For a player who has missed more than half of his team's games over the last two seasons, that is a ton of financial risk to take on.
If Detroit can get an elite shooter who is not a liability on defense for a package built around Ivey and draft capital, they should go for it. For example, the Pistons should be more than willing to break the bank for Jones' teammate, Trey Murphy III. Otherwise, holding onto Ivey makes more sense than acquiring yet another defense-first forward.