The Detroit Pistons are expected to be among the worst teams in the NBA once again after an average summer for the franchise that set the record for the longest losing streak in NBA history last season. Despite the poor record, franchise cornerstone Cade Cunningham proved he could be a star in the NBA with good health and a competent franchise around him. Instead of delaying success, the Pistons could emerge as Playoff contenders with a major splash this season itself.
The New Orleans Pelicans have too many primary offensive options in their lineup and no solid center, so a move that sees them acquire multiple assets for Brandon Ingram’s expiring contract could interest the franchise. Similarly, the Chicago Bulls would listen to offers willingly taking Zach LaVine away from the Bulls after finding a dry trade market for the former All-Star over the last year.
The Pistons could maximize both players after acquiring them for a very reasonable price and become a winning franchise once again.
Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls Receive: Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr, 2026 Second-Round Pick (DET)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey, 2029 First-Round Pick (DET)
The Pistons add two All-Star caliber scorers to one of the worst teams in the NBA with the outgoing pieces not being major losses outside young guard Jaden Ivey. Ingram is the most valuable player, which justified the Pelicans getting both Ivey and big Isaiah Stewart along with a first-round pick. The LaVine contract has many questioning if the Bulls will give up draft picks to get off LaVine, so the Bulls would be happy with two veterans to beef their rotation up.
The Pistons Make A Winning Splash
Since winning the 2021 Draft Lottery and landing Cade Cunningham, the Pistons haven’t seen their on-court performances evolve. This isn’t a slight to Cunningham, as the organization has been run questionably by the management and coaches who haven’t been able to build any positive value outside of Cunningham, who’s been injury-prone to start his career.
They need to prove they can be a winning franchise, especially with Cunningham in the last year of his rookie contract before his five-year, $224.2 million extension kicks in.
Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists last season with the Pelicans, having a poor scoring year but evolving his game as a much-improved passer and a competent defender. He’s on a $36.01 million expiring contract with the Pelicans reportedly exploring options on the trade market instead of giving him the max extension that he wants.
Ingram will have an opportunity to earn that contract in Detroit if he can be a difference-maker that takes them back into Playoff contention after seven years.
LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in an injury-riddled 23-24 season where the Pistons were reportedly interested in making a deal happen before Zach was ruled out for the season before the trade deadline. They can get him back now and pair him with Cunningham in the backcourt to create an explosive pairing.
Adding both LaVine and Ingram to this team could be enough to make them a .500 team or better, if not put them on the path to earning a top-six record in the East. New head coach J.B. Bickerstaff turned the Cleveland Cavaliers into contenders, so he could help bring the Pistons back on track with two talented offensive weapons.
The Bulls Still Push To Win Games While Managing Assets
The Chicago Bulls have made it clear through interviews that the team doesn’t intend on tanking, even though they let winning players like Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan leave this summer. The Bulls haven’t shown a willingness to bottom out in years, so they likely believe that they can be a top-10 team in the East again. They managed that feat without LaVine last year, so they can still get off him and add two dependable rotational players who can enhance the young stars on the squad.
Tobias Harris averaged 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on the 76ers last season, proving to be a do-it-all forward who would be best-suited to a rotational role. He’s a strong leader who could help the many young Bulls in the locker room.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is coming off a Finals run with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 14.4 points and 3.2 rebounds last season. He’s a certified flamethrower who’s a good veteran and can inject the Bulls with offense when needed.
Harris and Hardaway combined might be a better duo for the Bulls than what LaVine provides on his own. They can both also play as forwards, enabling the Bulls to continue highlighting stars like Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Ayo Dosunmu. Harris and Hardaway would be strong complementary pieces that will allow the team to be competitive while giving their young stars the keys to the franchise.
The Pelicans Fill Their Remaining Gaps
After acquiring Dejounte Murray, the Pelicans created an imbalanced roster with a lot of 20-point scorers but not enough gritty big men to absorb pressure for Zion Williamson in the frontcourt. Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III are wings who deserve more opportunity as well, so it seems moving Ingram out the door is the most coherent path to building a contender.
C.J. McCollum, Murray, and Zion will be three high-volume scorers on their own, with Murphy, Jones, and others being ideal role-players to defend and stretch the floor. As a result, moving on from Ingram for a big man like Isaiah Stewart and a bench flamethrower with room to grow like Jaden Ivey would be the perfect way forward.
Stewart averaged 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds last season. He’s a hard-nosed defender and rebounder who has shown a willingness to improve his 3-point jumper to be a stretch big. He could fill the Pelicans hole at center with ease, while Ivey adds a scoring spark off the bench. He averaged 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists last season.
The Pelicans likely won’t be extending Ingram to be a long-term option for the franchise, so moving off him now for this value would be the best way forward for the roster.
The Pistons’ New Starting Five Would Be Scary
If this deal was to go through, the Pistons would field a starting five featuring a do-it-all point guard, two electric scorers, an All-Defense caliber wing, and an athletic rim-protecting center.
PG: Cade Cunningham
SG: Zach LaVine
SF: Ausar Thompson
PF: Brandon Ingram
C: Jalen Duren
This is a very well-balanced lineup featuring something of everything, orchestrated by a point guard who does exactly that himself. This is a bet on Cade as their franchise cornerstone, as this will be the first time they’ve put him in a position to lead the team to wins and possibly a Playoff appearance.
The Bulls round out their lineup with players that make a lot more sense to what they’re trying to do as a competitive franchise, but also intelligently managing its assets by dumping LaVine without losing a first-round pick.
The Pelicans maximize a return for the expiring Ingram, hopefully adding the versatility needed to make a run in the Western Conference.
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