The Detroit Pistons have their best start to a season in two decades at 16-4 after the first 20 games of the campaign, led by Cade Cunningham. The Pistons are in a position to succeed in a wide-open Eastern Conference, but they could also use an additional scorer via trade.
One of the players they have been linked to this season is Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz. Markkanen is a perfect complement to the duo of Cunningham and Jalen Duren. He’s averaging 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season so far.
However, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that the Jazz would make it difficult for interested teams to acquire Markkanen. There’s a chance that Danny Ainge would build around the Finnish star rather than trade him at the deadline.
Trey Murphy III to Detroit trade proposal
With Lauri Markkanen likely costing a premium number of draft picks, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons suggested a cheaper alternative. Simmons brought up the New Orleans Pelicans‘ Trey Murphy III, who has been fantastic as long as he’s healthy.
Here’s Simmons’ trade idea on how to send Murphy to Detroit:
Pistons receive: Trey Murphy III
Pelicans receive: Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland, 2027 and 2029 first-round picks
“I just don’t think Markkanen wins the title for them. Like you’ve got to measure yourself against this OKC juggernaut that also might have the top five pick. I just wouldn’t go all in, and I like the team, and I think the team likes each other. But I think if you can steal Trey Murphy and not mortgage everything, I think you have to think about that,” Simmons said, via ClutchPoints.
Murphy is averaging 19.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game this season. He’ll slot in perfectly as a shooting guard or small forward, giving Cade Cunningham a real second option on offense.
Duncan Robinson has filled in quite nicely to replace Malik Beasley on the Pistons’ rotation, but Murphy is miles better defensively. Ausar Thompson‘s defense keeps him on the starting lineup, though Murphy can provide the additional shooting that the team needs.
On the other hand, the Pelicans need all the assets they can get after trading away their 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks. They did manage to find a gem in Derik Queen, but next year’s class is full of top prospects like Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer.
Other Options For Detroit
The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando has the belief that the Detroit Pistons could have the best chance to improve at the trade deadline. Durando mentioned Lauri Markkanen, but he’s likely going to be expensive.
Other options floated by Durando include Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Trey Murphy III and Michael Porter Jr. Davis seems perfect in Detroit, but his injury history is a risky proposition, while DeRozan doesn’t solve the Pistons’ 3-point shooting woes.
MPJ is a better shooter than Murphy and has the championship experience from his time with the Denver Nuggets. However, he also has a higher salary compared to the New Orleans Pelicans star.
The Pistons could take the Oklahoma City Thunder route and test their current roster in the playoffs before making the right changes in the offseason.
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