The Detroit Pistons maintain their lead in the Eastern Conference with a 19-5 record. Establishing themselves as a frontrunner to make the NBA Finals, the Pistons are expected to make moves ahead of the trade deadline to maximize their chances of contention. There is a long list of stars who may be on the trade block over the next month or two. Armed with a ton of intriguing young talent and draft capital, the Pistons are expected to be suitors for several of them.
In fact, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the Pistons are expected to pursue Anthony Davis on the trade market. Along with fellow Eastern Conference teams, the Hawks and the Raptors, Detroit was mentioned as a potential landing spot.
Pistons' Reported Interest in Anthony Davis Is a Good Sign
This is not necessarily surprising. The Mavericks are not going anywhere and have their eyes on the future after lucking into Cooper Flagg. Instead of chasing wins for a Play-In spot in the loaded Western Conference, the Mavericks would be better off offloading Anthony Davis, along with other vets like Klay Thompson and D'Angelo Russell, in exchange for future assets.
The Pistons are a natural fit. Even though they are young and have a bright future, the Pistons' title window is already open. The 32-year-old Davis can still play at an All-NBA level when healthy, and would make a fascinating frontcourt duo with Jalen Duren. We have seen how devastating AD can be as the No. 2 offensive option next to an elite shot creator, and he would have that in Cade Cunningham in Detroit. Defensively, he still has the versatility and impact that made him a perennial All-Defense candidate in his prime.
There are obvious injury and age-related concerns with Davis. He hasn't been in peak form this season. His shot continues to be inconsistent, raising questions about his viability as a power forward next to another non-shooter like Duren. One can argue that Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. would be better fits.
Yet, if Davis is the best player hitting the market this season and the Mavs have a reasonable asking price, it's worth pursuing for the Pistons. His $54 million price tag should lower Dallas' asking price, which shouldn't exceed a first-round pick or two in addition to matching salary.
More importantly, however, the reported interest in Davis suggests that the Pistons mean business. They are not deluded or complacent after the team's hot start. GM Trajan Langdon will not leave any stone unturned. If any All-Star caliber becomes available, it sounds like the Pistons will be active in their pursuit. That is the most Pistons fans can ask for from this front office.