The Detroit Pistons are not in a good spot right now. The squad from Michigan only has four wins in 24 games played and they are out of any playoff discussion. That is not a major surprise, as the team is devoid of much NBA talent.
Apart from a few players that have major potential, this season is just for the development of young guns such as Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey.
However, you can never have too much talent, so the Pistons should be on the lookout when it comes to possible trades. Thus, here are two players that the Pistons must pursue before the 2022 NBA trade deadline.
2 Pistons Trade Targets
Marvin Bagley III (Sacramento Kings)
The Kings have given up on the former second pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. Bagley was famously selected before Trae Young and Luka Doncic, bringing a ton of criticism onto Kings GM Vlade Divac. After three seasons of some effort being put into the relationship, this season seems to be the final one for the Kings and Bagley. The Pistons must pounce on this opportunity to bring this talented big-man into D-Town for pennies on a dollar.
Bagley was not a huge star in his first three seasons, but he showed immense potential. Standing at six-foot-eleven with a solid body. the forward had an efficient game and flashed good defensive potential. Unfortunately for him, he got drafted into a Kings roster that really did not have any sound plan for him, nor for the future of the franchise. It was a mix of different players that did not really gel, combined with a revolving door of coaches. All of that is not a sound environment for the development of young players, and the Pistons might provide just that for Bagley.
Article Continues BelowThe Pistons really lack potential in the forward section of their team. Of course, they have Jerami Grant who is the current best player on the roster. However, he is a small forward who can work well with a big man next to him. Right now, the majority of minutes in the frontcourt are given to Grant, who is really undersized for those positions. There were some mixes with Luka Garza, who just seems overmatched at this point of his development. Bagley would fit right in.
Regardless of positions, the Pistons are a really good place to jumpstart a somewhat dying career. It is true that they are losing a ton of games, but that just means that players with potential will get their minutes. Even Killian Hayes, a player that is not having a great season, is still getting minutes, around 25 per contest. Bagley would have the freedom to play, a team that will not put a ton of pressure on him, and almost a guarantee on minutes, regardless of circumstance. The Pistons should not be afraid to go for it in terms of Bagley, and they should give him a proper chance at an NBA life.
Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)
Starting with the assumption that Domantas Sabonis probably will not leave the Pacers, the Pistons should go all-in on Turner. The Pacers big man, according to a report, is available for trade. Similar to Bagley, the Pistons could utilize Turner to resolve their long-term issues in the frontcourt. With the backcourt rotation set for the next few years, the Pistons could pair up Bagley or Turner with a pick in the upcoming draft to finally present a viable future plan for their fans.
Turner is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. While his defensive numbers are consistently incredible, not a lot of NBA fans really value his contribution to the team. Of course, part of that is because he plays in Indiana, a small market that does not get a lot of national attention. However, the Pistons must circumvent the global undervaluing of Turner and go for him. He could be available for a price that is far beneath his station, something teams like the Pistons need to take advantage of.
The former Texas big man led the league in blocks for two out of the last three seasons and leads the NBA this season in that category. Additionally, for a six-eleven, 250 pounds player, he can also follow the guards around the perimeter on a solid level. These are qualities that the Pistons can use right away, and as he is only 25-years-old, Turner could be entering his prime as the young guys on the roster get more experience. Offensively, he is not elite, but he can get the job done. His offensive numbers are fairly stable and could be a solid third option for any team in the NBA.
The Pistons need to seek out these deals where good players in bad circumstances are available. Both Bagley and Turner are great pick-ups and can lead to long-term success in Detroit. At a reduced price, as both are now widely known to be in trade discussions, getting any of these two would be an elite piece of business by the management of the Pistons.