There’s a bevy of landing spots that the Pistons could explore for the former Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose at the deadline.
The former Chicago Bulls MVP point guard Derrick Rose is having a fantastic season with the Central Division foe Detroit Pistons. Since the Pistons are facing an even greater uphill battle to make a playoff run this year than the Bulls, they might look to blow it all up and start over at the trade deadline. D-Rose is one of those trade chips for the Pistons that NBA contenders could view as an immediate impact addition to their team.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Pistons are looking for “lottery-level” first round draft picks in return for D-Rose in any potential trade package. That would have to come from a title contender that is dealing with a lot of other draft picks from NBA franchises lower down in the standings.
That would have to come from a team like the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, or Philadelphia 76ers. Most of the teams that have another first round draft pick that could also be realistically considered title contenders in the NBA are in the Eastern Conference.
However, the former Bull D-Rose would likely best fit with a team like the Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers are the most often discussed team that could land D-Rose, but they don’t have any additional 2020 first round draft picks that would be considered “lottery-level”.
You’d also have to look into the considerable future, once Anthony Davis and LeBron James are both gone, for the Lakers to maybe return to the level of a lottery team. The Pistons might have to take players on instead of significant future draft capital if they want to form a trade deal with the Lakers.
Other teams that wouldn’t really be considered title contenders this year, but could be in playoff position at least like the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies, could use point guard help. If the Grizzlies wanted to part sensational rookie point guard Ja Morant with a solid veteran to learn under, then D-Rose could be a good trade target.
And the Magic really need a mentor for the former first overall draft pick of the Sixers, point guard Markelle Fultz, to develop under. The Magic also have the trade chips to make a deal like this work if they pursued it.
So far this season, D-Rose is averaging 18.9 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, while shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 31.5 percent from three-point range. His numbers are getting back to where they were at when he was among the best point guards in the NBA back in his days in a Bulls uniform.
The trade deadline is sure to bring fireworks among the more underrated veterans like D-Rose. He could join a title contender if the Pistons do decide to blow it all up. That is a decision they should make, especially if they decide to trade center Andre Drummond.