NBA Rumors: Pistons 'Considering' Becoming Buyers at 2025 Trade Deadline
January 18, 2025
The Detroit Pistons are "considering" becoming buyers prior to the impending Feb. 6 trade deadline, per Jake Fischer for the Stein Line newsletter.
"It was once considered a certainty that Detroit would look to absorb other teams' contracts for draft capital, either in salary dumps or to help facilitate multi-team trades, since no other team has that much in-season cap space to use," Fischer wrote on Saturday. "Now the Pistons are considering the concept of becoming trade deadline buyers, according to league sources."
Fischer added that these "appear to be more preliminary and evaluative conversations — how any methodical and pragmatic front office would look at all the avenues that the market presents."
Furthermore, it doesn't appear as if the Pistons are swinging for the fences. Fischer said that rival teams don't have the impression Detroit wants to make a massive move, such as adding New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.
Detroit went a league-worst 14-68 last season. The Pistons brought in a new regime led by president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Detroit brought in some veterans to shore up the roster in Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. to join a promising young core led by Cade Cunningham.
The results have been transformative, with Detroit ending the first half of the year with a 21-20 record. Not only is that good enough for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but Detroit is a manageable two-and-a-half games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for fourth place.
So the Pistons are in the playoff mix. It's no surprise, then, that the Pistons want to strike now and take advantage of their phenomenal first-half turnaround.
As for potential additions, B/R's Greg Swartz suggested Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton as a realistic target. He also noted Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons as a dream target. Both were suggested with Pistons guard Jaden Ivey potentially out for the season with a broken fibula suffered on Jan. 7.
For now, though, the Pistons are in good shape for a play-in berth at worst with the roster it has, even though Ivey is a bitterly tough loss.
