The Detroit Pistons have had a historic turnaround in the past few seasons.
After breaking the record for most losses in a row with 28 during the 2023-2024 season, they are now 9-2 and on top of the Eastern Conference.
Much of this is because of Cade Cunningham and his ability to fill the stat sheet.
However, the team may be one piece away from solidifying its status as a legit contender.
If they are looking to go all in, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes proposes a trade that would land them one of the league's best scorers.
“(Lauri) Markkanen wouldn't necessarily address the secondary playmaking issues Detroit faces, but he'd draw enough attention as a red-alert scorer to lighten the load on Cade Cunningham in other ways,” Hughes said Monday.
“His movement-shooting prowess from deep is basically unmatched among bigs around the league, and the 28-year-old is also a threat to punish opposing defenses with a wildly underrated driving game.”
Hughes believes that a trade between the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons could send Lauri Markkanen to Detroit in exchange for Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland, Tobias Harris, and two first-round picks.
Markkanen looks like his old self this season, as he averaged 28.3 points per game to start the season.
Right now, he is wasting away his talent in Utah, who have no signs of competing anytime soon.
The Pistons' current struggle is with Holland and Ausar Thompson sharing the floor and not being able to be relied on to knock down jump shots.
When Ivey comes back, that will only get worse.
Markkanen is a career 37% from three, and his shooting ability alongside Duncan Robinson is more than enough to open the floor for Cade while Thompson stays on the floor.
Ivey and Holland are two more players to add to Utah’s already young core.
Going into next season with them, Ace Bailey, Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Filipowski, and more would be great for the team.
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