The Detroit Pistons have built their roster beautifully.
And really, not just their roster, which is showing the Eastern Conference that it might just be as good as anyone on this side of the bracket.
They've built up their whole treasure trove of assets exactly how you'd want. If the Pistons want to go get someone in a trade, they're well-equipped to do so.
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ESPN's Bobby Marks explained it like this in a new article on Thursday:
"No East playoff team is better positioned than the Pistons. For the first time since November 2020, the Pistons control their own first-round pick in each of the next seven years, are allowed to trade up to four of them and can swap in each year. Detroit also has 14 second-rounders to use in deals. Financially, the Pistons are $26.2 million below the salary cap's first apron and can be aggressive in taking back considerable salary and contracts. Detroit has the $26.3 million expiring contract of Tobias Harris and short-term salaries of Robinson ($16.8 million), Isaiah Stewart ($15 million) and Caris LeVert ($14.1 million)."
More or less, that means the Pistons could do almost anything.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have more assets out West, but among the teams the Pistons are directly competing with, no one can match them.
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That's not to say Detroit will be in a rush to do anything. It's not a bad thing to keep that strong selection of picks to be moved down the road or to simply be used on talented youth.
The Pistons will get a natural infusion of talent shortly when Jaden Ivey returns from injury, too. The speedy guard hasn't played yet this season.
Detroit can open any door it wants here. It'll be interesting to see what the Pistons actually decide to do.
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