This could be a big week for the Pistons.
Maybe. Maybe not.
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, and one of the biggest names being bandied about in trade rumors is Pistons forward Jerami Grant.
At this time of year, there are plenty of phone calls, with some ridiculous offers and some credible ones. The trick is getting them worked out to the point that both teams are satisfied with the terms.
If the Pistons are willing to trade Grant, it has to be for the right return, and that seems to be a first-round pick and a young player, and some matching salary, if needed. If that's not what's on the table, the Pistons are in no way pressured to try to trade Grant.
Grant, 27, has one year and $21 million left on his original three-year deal, and there will be a market for his services in the offseason if nothing is finalized by the deadline. There's no rush to take the best deal possible right now, or to get any less than they see as a fair deal for a potential All-Star who could help a middling team jump into the playoffs or give a contender a boost to make a playoff run.
Grant was their leading scorer last season and this season, though the Pistons had their best stretch of the season with both Grant and Kelly Olynyk out of the lineup. That does bode well in the event that Grant is traded.
Saddiq Bey, in his second season, has shown that he can handle that go-to role. When Grant was out, Bey elevated his game — and that could be a peek at what the next stage of the rebuild looks like.
The timeline for the rebuild seems to be wanting to make strides next season and potentially making a playoff push in 2023-24. Grant will be due for a contract extension, so he could still be part of that plan. The other side of that is getting two more young players, which could push the plan back a little.
Most of their core players are between 20-23 years old, so adding another draft pick and another young player would fit in that time frame. Grant could be the leader of that group, or the Pistons could find another option in free agency, when they'll have more flexibility this season for the first time in years.
Critical juncture
The Pistons could have about $31.4 million available under the salary cap, and along with their young core and a likely top-five draft pick, they could kick-start the rebuild in a hurry. That means this offseason could be a critical juncture for which way their rebuilding efforts.
Getting a couple of good pieces for Grant ahead of this week's deadline could be just as important. The Washington Wizards and New York Knicks are among the teams rumored to be interested in trading for Grant, and both teams have some pieces that could be intriguing additions for the Pistons.
Some additional reports indicate the Pistons are interested in the New York Knicks' Mitchell Robinson and the Phoenix Suns' Jalen Smith. That seems to be in line with the idea that they need more depth and flexibility at the center position.
Robinson, 23, fits with the average age of the young core, and his athleticism at the center position would fit well with the Pistons. He's posting 8.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks with the Knicks this season.
Smith, 21, was the Suns' first-round pick (10th overall) in the 2020 draft. He's still raw, and in 27 games, he's posted 6.3 points and 5 rebounds — but he's been limited in his playing time because Deandre Ayton and JaVale McGee occupy most of the minutes. He would be a low-risk target, and might now cost much to acquire.
In any case, the Pistons have to remain open-minded, but not in a panic to move Grant or to accelerate their rebuild at the risk of value for their young players. General manager Troy Weaver has done a good job in his trades and deals in his first two seasons, and this deadline could be another big point.
Maybe. Possibly.
