Breaking Down the Detroit Pistons' Best Trade Bait
The way the 2014-15 season has started, the Detroit Pistons have to be open to moving nearly anyone on the roster.
They play in the (L)Eastern Conference, so even a two-week hot streak could put the Pistons back in the playoff race. But this is still a team that has won just two of its last 17 games and has one of the worst records in the NBA.
If the time to consider blowing the whole thing up has yet to arrive, then it is right around the corner.
Despite their record, the Pistons have some players who would attract potential suitors. This is a case where the whole is actually less than the sum of its parts.
Four players have been excluded from this exercise: Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Singler and Jodie Meeks. The Pistons should be looking toward the future, and all four are young guys whose rights are controlled by Detroit next season.
Though team president and head coach Stan Van Gundy said in the offseason that nobody was "untouchable," Drummond is as close to that status as any young big man not named Anthony Davis. Caldwell-Pope has the makings of an elite three-and-D guy at shooting guard.
Meeks is a great shooter on a palatable contract, and he has yet to play more than a handful of games for Detroit. Singler can be a top-end bench player on a winning team, and his qualifying offer for next season is just $1.4 million.
Beyond that, everybody is hypothetically available for the NBA's other 29 franchises.
Josh Smith
1 of 5
It would be in Detroit's best interests to move Josh Smith, but doing so is easier said than done.
The mercurial forward is playing out of position too often next to Drummond and Greg Monroe, is having arguably the worst statistical season of his career, and—at age 29—is several years older than the other members of the Pistons' core.
Unfortunately, he is also under contract for two years and $27 million after this season ends.
All of that doesn't make him unmovable, but teams certainly won't have to overpay for his services.
The Sacramento Kings still have interest, per Vincent Goodwill Jr. of The Detroit News. According to ESPN.com, the Brooklyn Nets have reportedly made players available who would fit a potential Smith trade. And in general, he has the athleticism and skill set which could bring out other suitors as the deadline approaches.
But in any move, the Pistons shouldn't expect much, if anything, in the way of returning assets. In order to trade Smith, they will almost certainly have to take back at least one onerous contract.
It may be worth it in order to move forward.
Brandon Jennings
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Van Gundy could also shop around the Pistons' other major acquisition from the summer of 2013.
Brandon Jennings has shown glimpses of greatness throughout his career, but he has always struggled with consistency. He has improved his passing ability since his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, but it doesn't offset his frequent disinterest in defense and his questionable shot selection.
His flaws have never been more apparent than this December, as he has scored just 6.2 points per game on 24.1 percent shooting. But he is only 25, and his contract is palatable with just one year and $8.3 million remaining after this season.
More than anything, he has useful NBA skills: He can run an offense and get his own shot at any time.
Teams can use those things, playoff teams especially. Bleacher Report's Adam Fromal suggests that the Houston Rockets could be an ideal fit, as they could take on Jennings' salary with a trade exception while offering a draft pick in return.
"Houston gets to gain even more firepower and doesn't even have to lose Patrick Beverley's services in the process," said Fromal. "Detroit gets rid of an ugly contract and adds one more draft-day selection to the coffers."
If a team offers Van Gundy a first-rounder for Jennings, expect him to jump all over it.
Jonas Jerebko
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Though not as big of a name as Jennings or Smith, Jonas Jerebko could be an interesting player for many contenders.
He can play both forward positions off the bench, is hitting over 34 percent of his triples and puts in good effort defensively. Jerebko also has a contract that expires at the end of the season.
He is only playing 13 minutes per game and does not look like a part of Van Gundy's future plans. For a playoff team in need of shooting, he could be a cheap option on a loan for the rest of the year.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are No. 29 in the NBA in three-point shooting at 31.3 percent, and they have a number of young players. Teams like the Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets also rank among the league's 10 worst teams from beyond the arc and could attempt a playoff push.
Put in the right situation, Jerebko could be a useful stretch 4 off the bench for 10 to 15 minutes per night on a playoff team. The Pistons may be able to get a second-round pick or a prospect in return for him.
D.J. Augustin
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If Jennings does not get moved, D.J. Augustin could find himself in another uniform.
With the Chicago Bulls in 2013-14 and now this season in Detroit, he has proved to be a high-end backup point guard. And at $3 million next season, Augustin is on a bargain deal.
Because he has the second year on his contract, the Pistons won't be pressured to move him. But at age 27, he is on the older side for a team that is potentially in need of a long rebuild.
Augustin could fit in with any team that is looking for a secondary ball-handler. He's capable of running an offense and creating shots to an extent, although less so than Jennings. And though he has struggled with his three-point shooting this season, he is a 37.2 shooter from the arc for his career.
With his contract and abilities, Augustin could be used to acquire an asset alone or be included as part of a larger trade. On his own, he would likely fetch only modest picks or prospects. But if he's not in the Pistons' future, every asset can help to restock their roster.
Greg Monroe
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Greg Monroe is Detroit's biggest trade asset wild card, and his place on the team is precarious.
His natural position is a question mark, plus he is being squeezed for playing time and post touches by Drummond and Smith. After accepting the qualifying offer this summer, Monroe is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Many suspect his time in Detroit is short.
That would give Van Gundy motivation to move him, but accepting the qualifying offer also granted Monroe what amounts to a no-trade clause this season. And being traded would cost him his Bird rights, lowering his earning potential in the upcoming free agency.
According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Pistons reportedly will accept a first-round pick for Monroe, but that is a big price for a rental, and Monroe doesn't seem open to a move anyway.
Perhaps the losing will wear Monroe down, or he will see a move as a way to improve his market value. But for now, he appears to be staying put.
Even if he is the Piston who would benefit from a trade the most.
All records and statistics accurate through December 18, 2014 and are from NBA.com unless otherwise noted. All salary information from Sham Sports.
Jakub Rudnik covers the Detroit Pistons as a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
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