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Over the last couple weeks, the Detroit Pistons have been included in a number of potential deals that would bring a star player to the Motor City to pair alongside Cade Cunningham, including potential trades for both Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown. Now, obviously neither of those deals came to fruition with Leonard heading back to the Toronto Raptors and Brown being dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in a surprising transaction, but it shows that the Pistons are staying active and at least kicking the tires to see what and who may be available.
Along those lines, the Pistons have been in contact with the Houston Rockets over the past couple weeks to see what it would take to pry 16-time All-Star Kevin Durant away from the Western Conference franchise. At first, Detroit inquired about KD’s availability with regards to a three-team trade involving the Pistons, Rockets and the Celtics. In this hypothetical deal, the Celtics would receive Alperen Sengun, while Detroit would land Durant with Brown headed to the opposite conference, but that trade idea was rebuked by Houston.
Despite that initial brick wall, Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon continued to be persistent with his pursuit of Durant and shifted his focus to a trade of the two-team variety according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
“Two league sources with knowledge of the situation told ClutchPoints that the Pistons were set on figuring out a path to land Durant, but nothing ever materialized in this three-team idea, nor did anything appear possible in brief discussions with only Houston,” Siegel wrote. “Perhaps the greatest detail to emerge from all of these rumors is that Durant has interest in playing alongside Pistons star Cade Cunningham, sources said.”
During his initial campaign with the Rockets, Durant averaged 26 points per game last season, which continued his streak of averaging at least 20 points a night for his entire NBA career. On top of that scoring mark, Durant posted 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game as a Rockets squad that relied on the 37-year old for a large portion of their offensive production.
In terms of his potential fit in Detroit, Durant would immediately serve as a tremendous secondary scorer who could easily elevate to the team’s primary option on a game-by-game basis with Cunningham’s playmaking to set the veteran up with open looks. The Pistons needed another scoring option in the playoffs when All-Star center Jalen Duren’s effectiveness took a big hit, and there’s no doubt that Durant could have found a way to remain effective in that scenario.
The Pistons could utilize Durant at either the three or the four given his length and athletic profile, which meshes well with the optionality that Detroit has and still is trying to foster, but he would not come cheap even at this stage in his career. However, the Rockets may want to hang onto the generational scoring threat considering the value that he provided on an otherwise young Houston unit.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage, but while you’re here, join Pistons Roundtable for FREE and become a contributing member to our community today. Also be sure to look up Roundtable - Michigan Men Media on Facebook for continued social media coverage of all the sporting teams in the Mitten.
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Along those lines, the Pistons have been in contact with the Houston Rockets over the past couple weeks to see what it would take to pry 16-time All-Star Kevin Durant away from the Western Conference franchise. At first, Detroit inquired about KD’s availability with regards to a three-team trade involving the Pistons, Rockets and the Celtics. In this hypothetical deal, the Celtics would receive Alperen Sengun, while Detroit would land Durant with Brown headed to the opposite conference, but that trade idea was rebuked by Houston.
Despite that initial brick wall, Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon continued to be persistent with his pursuit of Durant and shifted his focus to a trade of the two-team variety according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
“Two league sources with knowledge of the situation told ClutchPoints that the Pistons were set on figuring out a path to land Durant, but nothing ever materialized in this three-team idea, nor did anything appear possible in brief discussions with only Houston,” Siegel wrote. “Perhaps the greatest detail to emerge from all of these rumors is that Durant has interest in playing alongside Pistons star Cade Cunningham, sources said.”
During his initial campaign with the Rockets, Durant averaged 26 points per game last season, which continued his streak of averaging at least 20 points a night for his entire NBA career. On top of that scoring mark, Durant posted 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game as a Rockets squad that relied on the 37-year old for a large portion of their offensive production.
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NBA Trade Talk: John Collins May Be Joining Detroit Pistons Via Sign-And-Trade With ClippersThe Detroit Pistons are working in the margins this offseason, but bringing in John Collins at the four is a move that will provide much more than just fringe benefits for the squadIn terms of his potential fit in Detroit, Durant would immediately serve as a tremendous secondary scorer who could easily elevate to the team’s primary option on a game-by-game basis with Cunningham’s playmaking to set the veteran up with open looks. The Pistons needed another scoring option in the playoffs when All-Star center Jalen Duren’s effectiveness took a big hit, and there’s no doubt that Durant could have found a way to remain effective in that scenario.
The Pistons could utilize Durant at either the three or the four given his length and athletic profile, which meshes well with the optionality that Detroit has and still is trying to foster, but he would not come cheap even at this stage in his career. However, the Rockets may want to hang onto the generational scoring threat considering the value that he provided on an otherwise young Houston unit.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage, but while you’re here, join Pistons Roundtable for FREE and become a contributing member to our community today. Also be sure to look up Roundtable - Michigan Men Media on Facebook for continued social media coverage of all the sporting teams in the Mitten.
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