National Basketball Association

Detroit Pistons have few options to upgrade point guard in trade market

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Detroit Pistons are in a tricky situation with Reggie Jackson likely out six to eight weeks. They have solid depth at point guard, but the drop off from Jackson to the rest of the bunch will likely be significant. Should the Pistons try to trade Aron Baynes to supplement losing Jackson?

The Detroit Pistons signed Ish Smith in the offseason to be their backup point guard. Then Reggie Jackson got diagnosed with a serious case of knee tendinitis that’s expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks.

That leaves Ish Smith as the Pistons’ starting point guard for at least six to eight weeks.

Let’s get one thing straight–Ish Smith is not Reggie Jackson. He does not possess the length or scoring ability Jackson does.

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Jackson is the Pistons’ best playmaker and scorer. With Jackson such an integral part of what the Pistons like to do offensively, it might be a good idea to explore trading a piece to land a significant contributor on offense.

To land starting caliber players it likely requires trading starting caliber players.

The only players the Pistons can really afford to trade that fit that description are Ish Smith, Aron Baynes, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Trading Ish Smith might seem a bit odd given that the Pistons are in need of starting caliber point guards, but packaging him with one of the other two aforementioned played could net the Pistons with an even better starting caliber point guard.

It would also strengthen the Pistons’ depth at the position when Jackson does return, while keeping the Pistons offense running smooth in Jackson’s absence.

Baynes and Caldwell-Pope make sense as trade candidates due to their contracts.

Caldwell-Pope will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and the Pistons will have to make a decision on matching offer sheets should the two sides not come to an extension by October 31.

Baynes has the ability to opt out of his contract at season’s end and many expect him to do that with the money that is available in free agency.

With Caldwell-Pope the most essential of the three player’s to the Pistons’ long-term success, the team might be reluctant to move him. If he plays well this season–and an extension isn’t reached by the deadline–the team has insinuated that they are willing to pay up for him. If he doesn’t play up to expectations, there’s a chance the market price is much more reasonable and that the Pistons would still match offer sheets.

That decreases the chances that the Pistons would be willing to package him in a trade, though it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Baynes remains the most movable piece, but finding a team that is in need of a center, that has a plethora of talent at point guard, and matching the salaries to make the trade valid is difficult with the landscape as it is right now.

Perhaps the most likely team’s to fit that description would be the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns, who both have talented point guards that they could be willing to part with.

The Suns could use a center, but would Baynes and Ish Smith move the needle for Brandon Knight or Eric Bledsoe? I doubt it considering Baynes contract and Smith’s talent level.

The Timberwolves could also use a center and might be willing to part with Ricky Rubio for Smith and Baynes, but again, they’d have to be willing to take the risk of Baynes bolting in the offseason. (Then again, the Timberwolves might welcome the future cap space).

The other thing to consider here is that since Smith was signed this offseason, he can’t be traded until mid-December, when Jackson will be nearing his return.

The Pistons could still go this route in mid-December, but the trade scenarios are less palatable considering the chief gain would be attaining a higher caliber of player while Jackson is out.

So if the Pistons want to upgrade their point guard position while Jackson is out they either have to be willing to trade Caldwell-Pope and Baynes, or try to find an upgrade straight up for Baynes.

With Boban Marjanovic, Jon Leuer, and talented rookie Henry Ellenson on the roster, I really wouldn’t mind the Pistons going that route if they could actually find a trade that accomplished upgrading their starting point guard.

The Pistons don’t have enough cap space to trade for a big talent without giving up a player with a similar contract. Factor in the eligibility of free agents being traded until December and the pickings are slim.

For those of you clamoring for the Pistons to make a move to upgrade their starting point guard, it’s likely not happening unless the Pistons are willing to trade Caldwell-Pope for a talented player on his rookie contract.

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