The Detroit Pistons were hoping to be contenders during the 2013-14 season, but so far that has yet to happen. The team put together their own personal Big 3, but they are not functioning well on the court together causing the downfall of the team. While many were assuming the Pistons would try to trade someone like Greg Monroe, they were trying to put another move.
According to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com, Detroit would prefer to trade Josh Smith before the NBA deadline, but they know that will be impossible to pull off. Smith is putting up career-low numbers across the board. Detroit has him playing small forward too much, causing his shooting and defense to struggle. Not to mention Smith is putting up way too many jump shots instead of driving inside.
Detroit would love to trade him, but his contract is the main issue in any potential deal. This is Smith's first season in Detroit after the Pistons gave him a four-year, $56 million contract during free agency. Not a single team will take that on mid-way through the season. Smith's stats are not necessarily what will scare teams away. The money he is owed is what makes a trade dead in the water.
ProBasketballTalk.com brings up a few possible trade scenarios that may be able to happen with the right negotiations. Smith could be sent to the New York Knicks in exchange for Andrea Bargnani. Ben Gordon from the Bobcats could be a target if Charlotte included some draft picks in the package.
The better trade for the Pistons would be Greg Monroe. The team has too many big men and Monroe would garner more interest than Smith. Monroe is set to be become a restricted free agent and his value right now is high meaning Detroit could get a solid return for him. He will likely command big money in the offseason, which could be trouble for Detroit.
The Pistons view Monroe as one of the top young players in the league and NBA sources tell ESPN.com the team has zero plans on trading him before Feb. 20. That does not mean Detroit plans on offering a contract extension to him, but general manager Joe Dumars is committed to Monroe until the end of the season.
The lack of trade interest in Smith forces Detroit to maintain faith that their original plan of Andre Drummon, Smith and Monroe will work out at some point. So far, the team is not yielding the results it wanted, so do not rule out some kind of last minute deal as a result.