NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks' Pablo Prigioni could be trade target for Pistons

With the loss of Brandon Jennings to a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Detroit Pistons might be interested in New York Knicks backup point guard Pablo Prigioni, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

Stein points out that Detroit had previously shown "exploratory interest" in Prigioni, and that Jennings' injury could lead the Pistons to reconsider trading for the veteran playmaker. The third-year point from Argentina has been a serviceable player for the Knicks, sporting career averages of 3.9 points and 3.1 assists across 1.0 turnover whilst shooting .450/.416/.873.

Pablo came into the Association in 2012 after a very successful International career, which boasts several Spanish League titles as well as League & Finals MVP awards, a 2008 Olympic bronze medal and multiple FIBA Americas Championship medals. Although an older player in a young league, Prigioni shined during his rookie year, and re-signed with the Knicks for three years and $6 million. Currently in the second year of his contract, which is paying him $1.6M, his shooting has dipped some, but that probably has more to do with a new system and a lack of talent around him than an erosion of skill. This year he is shooting .429/.378/.846.

Although an important part of the team, the Knicks have four point guards on the roster, all of which are younger and have more potential than the 37-year-old floor general. His third year is partially guaranteed and it wouldn't take too much for the Pistons to pry the aging veteran away from New York; considering the Pistons' own Luigi Datome is reportedly on the block, a straight salary swap would work, as well as help both teams.

The Knicks are lacking shooting and Datome has a shooter's pedigree, and with a season going nowhere, evaluating the Italian sharpshooter could be more beneficial than anything Prigioni could offer. If the Knicks weren't interested in a player, the Pistons could send over a second-round pick. That pick could be a high second-rounder if the team doesn't stay on the path toward improvement or it could be an inconsequential mid-second-round pick.

Stan Van Gundy's system seemingly plays to Prigioni's strengths. The emphasis on spacing and sharing the ball would enable Prigioni to display his passing and shooting skills as either a backup or, as he proved with the Knicks, even a serviceable starter.

The Pistons could do a lot worse than trading for the experienced Argentinian, and would be a low-risk/high-reward move for Detroit.