There is less than a week to go before the NBA trade deadline, and the Detroit Pistons need to do something. That could be as small a move as they formally create a roster spot for Daniss Jenkins or a large move, including, according to Marc Stein, trading a whole lot for Michael Porter Jr. or a good amount for Miles Bridges.
Stein writes on Substack that the Pistons “have continued to internally weigh the idea of pursuing wing scorers such as Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr or Charlott’es Miles Bridges, but no firm indication has yet emerged that Detroit is actively engaged in trade talks for either.”
If the Pistons go big-game hunting, it’s no surprise that Porter Jr. would be at the top of their list. Porter is the most coveted large wing shooter on the trade market, and that checks every box on Detroit’s wish list. He is shooting 39% from three on nearly 10 attempts a game, is a legit 6-foot-10, and has acquitted himself well in the playoffs. He is under team control for one more season beyond this one at $40 million.
Bridges, meanwhile, is not the shooter that Porter is, but he’s a thick unit that can switch between either forward spot, is a willing (if not terribly efficient) perimeter shooter, and can create offense for himself and occasionally for others. He has been a 20-point-per-game scorer on the Hornets for the three seasons prior to this one, and even though he’s taken a slight step back to 18.5 points this season, it is at the service of a better offense for himself and his teammates.
Bridges also takes care of the ball despite having it in his hands quite a bit. His career turnover percentage is just 10% while his usage rate this season of 23.1% would rank second in the Pistons’ rotation after Cade Cunningham.
What would it take to obtain either of these players? Well, there’s the rub, as they say.
Stein writes that the Nets are seeking “more than” a first-round pick to ship out Porter, and the Hornets are seeking “at least one first-round pick” for Bridges.
He also indicates that the league anticipates no splashy moves in Detroit at the deadline, and that tracks with everything we’ve heard up to this point.
However, the Pistons are playing really well, and it is also incredibly clear that they need more shooting and scoring on the roster. Could they be getting more comfortable with the idea of being more aggressive this season? We’ll know in less than a week.
