NBA Trade Rumors: Heat's Norris Cole could be Pistons' target

The Detroit Pistons have reportedly looked into Heat point guard Norris Cole, who has been made available by the Heat, according to Cleveland.com writer Chris Haynes.

Stan Van Gundy says the Pistons aren't willing to give up assets to shore up the point guard position, and it is unclear just what it would take to pry Cole away from the Heat. Cole will be a restricted free agent after this season and it is unclear if Miami is interested in bringing him back. But the Heat are still in playoff position in the East and remains above Shabazz Napier on the depth chart.

The Pistons could use someone to replace the dynamic Jennings on the offensive end, and that is certainly not Cole. But Detroit could also use someone to help shore up its too frequently porous defense and that is something Cole could help with.

The 26-year-old Cole is shooting 38 percent on the year, has a 47 percent career true shooting percentage and has never been much of a ball handler with the Heat. He's been an adequate  3-point shooter before this season so if you squint really hard you can see how he might sort of make sense for Detroit.

But, honestly, I'm not seeing anything that tells me his defense is nearly good enough to make up for his putrid offense, and he wouldn't be a good enough ball handler to help get other guys open looks, and that is what Detroit needs around Jodie Meeks, Anthony Tolliver and Caron Butler or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Kyle Singler.

What do you think? Should the Pistons be interested in bringing in Cole if the cost is just, say, a second-round pick?