Piston Powered: Is it time for the Piston to trade Blake Griffin

by Aaron Kellerstrass



I predicted that the next 10 games would decide if Detroit was going to blow it up, and just one game in it appears as though that time is getting near. A depressing fourth week brought few positive trends for individual players but started the narratives that are likely to dominate the rest of the season, including whether the Pistons should trade Griffin and start over. Here’s the weekly stock exchange for Week 4.

Griffin has only played two games and it would be unfair to judge his performance as he tries to get into game shape and integrate into an offense that was actually clicking in his absence. Detroit has the 10th best offensive rating in the league and have looked great at times running the offense through Drummond and Luke Kennard. When the Pistons are moving the ball effectively, they have proven that they can score and are fun to watch.

That is why it was so disappointing to see the Pistons almost instantly revert to bully-Blake isolation ball when Griffin returned. Any team would have some challenges getting their superstar back involved after an injury but watching the Pistons sometimes dynamic offense regress to the boring, ineffective isolation team from last year had some wondering if now might be the time to trade Griffin and if the Pistons could possibly be better without him.

Obviously, the Pistons are not going to get back a player of Griffin’s talent or stature in any trade, but would they be better off with a few solid players than one great one? Detroit lacks depth at practically every position. They are also terrible defensively, which isn’t likely to improve much, as Griffin is not a great defender and the Pistons still lack a reliable backup center and small forward.

Trading Griffin now would be selling low, but if Detroit continues to falter, they have to consider this option, even if it means eating a trade that might not be palatable to some fans.

We’ve seen what this offense can do without Griffin, so it is now fair to ask if the Pistons would be better off solidifying their porous defense and adding some depth than they would be counting on Griffin to bail them out. If Detroit could get a competent 3-and-D wing, a backup center and a future pick for Griffin, they must consider it.

It is also fair to question the front office’s choice to build a team around so many injury prone players. Even if they get lesser players in return for Griffin or Jackson, if those players are consistently on the floor, they’ll still be coming out ahead.

The Pistons can’t keep putting themselves in a position where their entire season rests on whether Griffin and Jackson can stay healthy. Detroit would be selling low but could still end up being a better team in terms of defense, depth and health. If the Pistons want to get better without a full-blown rebuild, trading Griffin might be their best move.

The Pistons are only 1.5 games out of the playoffs, so it’s not like they can’t turn it around, but they haven’t even played the Celtics or Bucks, nor any of the top teams in the West and have already lost games to the Hawks, Bulls, Wizards and Hornets – teams that they must dominate to be competitive.

If the Pistons lose any of the upcoming games to the Bulls or Hornets, they will have put themselves into a big hole before even facing any of the best teams. If Detroit’s chances of making the playoffs rest on an extended winning streak on a west coast road trip in March, they are doomed.

It would be very disappointing if the Pistons didn’t make the playoffs, but it would be far more disappointing if they did so and ended up at the 9-11 seed, which is exactly where they are headed.

I am not pro-tanking under almost any circumstances but have also had enough of watching a team whose ceiling is the 8 seed, the no man’s land of being both irrelevant and not even getting rewarded with a high pick. The Pistons realistically have another month to right the ship, as they are unlikely to make any trades before Dec. 15, but it is time for this front office to show that they are not going to allow the Pistons to lose another decade to mediocrity.

If the Pistons can’t turn it around, something must be done, and all options are on the table, including a complete teardown. The Pistons have a few days to stew about the horrible loss to the Hornets and practice before another winnable game against the Bulls, so it is time to see what this team is made of. If they continue to falter, even with Griffin and Rose, it is time to pull the plug and hit reset.

https://pistonpowered.com/2019/11/18/detroit-pistons-stock-exchange-time-to-trade-blake-griffin/