Pistons Willing To Use Cap Space For Trades; Seeking First-Round Pick

The Detroit Pistons have been active ahead of the NBA trade deadline and are willing to use their $14 million in cap space to help facilitate deals, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

But they want a first-round draft pick in return.

The Pistons are in the playoff mix under first-year head of basketball operations Trajan Langdon and first-year coach J.B. Bickerstaff after finishing 14-68 last season. This year, guard Cade Cunningham is an All-Star to boot.

“Teams looking to dump unwanted salaries to duck below the luxury tax threshold and second apron have circled with interest,” Scotto wrote of Detroit.

While the Pistons haven’t been linked to any specific players or teams, shooting guard Malik Beasley is drawing interest from at least one contender, he told Scotto. The Pistons very well could use some of their older players as trade chips, sources say.

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday afternoon (February 6).

Among the trades most being discussed, the Miami Heat are likely to need a facilitator in their attempts to move Jimmy Butler. The Chicago Bulls have also been swirling in the rumor mill, with Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and nearly everyone else said to be available.

Detroit sits at 23-34 and in with place in the Eastern Conference standings entering Friday’s home game against the Dallas Mavericks. The Pistons are the only team with available cap space.

While they could add a veteran for a playoff push after the deadline, they’re also being cautious, so as to not mess with the chemistry that’s developed under Bickerstaff.