Detroit Pistons trade rumors are few and far between. The team has some appealing assets, but needs every healthy body in order to remain competitive and achieve its goal of making the playoffs for the first time in seven years. That means in order to improve the team would have to sacrifice a little bit of its future, and ESPN's Zach Lowe reports that the team might be willing to offer up a protected first-round pick for an immediate talent upgrade.
In discussing the Ryan Anderson trade market, Lowe had this to say:
Anderson has drawn a ton of interest, considering his abysmal defense and approaching free agency; dude might earn $20 million per year on his next deal, and some teams would run from that contract. Detroit and Sacramento both hope to sign him in free agency, sources say, but the teams are deciding whether it might be safer to acquire him now and gain that fifth-year edge in the July auction.
Anderson thrived in Orlando under Stan Van Gundy, Detroit's coach, and he grew up around Sacramento. The Pistons badly want to make the playoffs after a seven-year wait, and they've shown some willingness to at least talk about dealing a protected 2016 first-rounder.
While he's speaking strictly in the context of Anderson, one can make the leap that if they're willing to even talk about giving up a pick for Anderson, they might be willing to give up a pick for a similar improvement.
The only other players Detroit has allegedly expressed interest in is Markieff Morris. Vince Ellis has been reporting since October that the Pistons have been monitoring the Morris situation, but there is no indication that Detroit would be willing to give up a significant bounty to reunite Markieff with twin brother Marcus.
Recently, reports indicate that Suns GM Ryan McDonough has rebuffed trade proposals that feature only a first-round pick and is holding out for a first-round pick and a young player. Which seems crazy for a player who quit on his coach, got the coach fired, started trying when the season was already lost and then choked a teammate and had to be restrained by other players.
So ... yeah, not sure how much I'd want Stan Van Gundy to give up to get Markieff.