NBA Trade Rumors 2016: Detroit May Have to Act Before Trade Deadline After Series of Losses
The Detroit Pistons had a promising start to the season, but are quickly fading following three consecutive defeats. Although the Eastern Conference is a lot easier to make a push, the team appears to be bent on making a move right before the trade deadline, which, by the way, is only four days away.
Detroit's demise is actually more alarming than it looks since they've lost six of their eight games and are currently down as the ninth seeded team in a league where only eight can move on and proceed to the playoffs. They will be resuming action with an even 27-27 record, but the competition right after the All-Star break gets tougher.
A good reason for the team's worry about not being able to make it to the playoffs this year is the fact that several of its starters are nursing different injuries and health issues. Point guard Reggie Jackson and forward Ersan Ilyasova are battling illnesses, while primary wing defender Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is dealing with a groin injury. With those three uncertain to be fully healthy after the break, is it really time to push the panic button?
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One positive thing about Detroit is that the head coach and president of basketball operations is just one man — Stan Van Gundy. So if he is bent on improving his current roster and getting help while his starters are unfit, then no one's stopping him. The only question is: Who are they targeting?
There are several teams out there that are aggressively marketing their own stars, including the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans, who, by the way, are shopping Rudy Gay and Ryan Anderson. It's no secret that the Kings are willing to part with Gay if given the right offer and should be interesting to think who among the Pistons are expendable at this point. As for Anderson, the Pistons could use a sweet-shooting big man who can better spread the floor for Andre Drummond.
Whatever the plan is, Van Gundy has a few more days left to decide.
