Armed with young players and veterans whose contracts are expiring, the Detroit Pistons will be able to make a trade to change their trajectory in a few months. A recent scenario that has emerged sees them acquiring a former champion who fits the roster perfectly.
Earlier this week, people from Bleacher Report The Pistons have finalized a three-team trade that could shake up the NBA landscape. One possibility is that the Pistons would engage in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets.
In this fake trade, Detroit gets Michael Porter Jr. from the Nuggets in exchange for Isaiah Stewart, Tim Hardaway Jr. and a second-round pick.
The Pistons should be thrilled to add Porter, a 41.0 percent lifetime three-point shooter, to a team that ranks tied for last in three-point shooting (11.0) and 26th in accuracy (34.8). Putting him in the starting five at wing gives players like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey more room to operate.
Porter is a score-focused forward who thrived with the Nuggets while relying on an unselfish star in Nikola Jokic. Last season, he averaged 16.7 points per game, 7 rebounds per game and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range.
After dealing with a back injury early in his career, Porter Jr. has thrived with the Nuggets. His scoring mindset has made him a perfect complement to a superstar like Jokic. Given that the Pistons also have a very capable point guard who needs space around him, MPJ could find similar success in Detorit.
As for his contract, Porter Jr. is signed for the next three seasons. His price tag is high, around $35 million, and will only increase over the life of the contract. As the second primary option behind Cade Cunningham, he could be worth that salary if his production can increase.
The only problem with such a move is that it only creates a bigger logjam at forward for Detroit. It would make it harder for Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland to play consistently and develop their games.
As an outstanding shooter and high-level scorer, Porter Jr. would be an instant fit for the Pistons. That said, he’s not the player who can earn time.
