The Detroit Pistons may look at a Josh Smith trade this season along with Brandon Jennings depending on how things play out and the Sacramento Kings could be an option, as they were looking hard at Smith this summer and it comes as the Pistons are hoping to keep Greg Monroe next summer in free agency and moving Smith could be the first part of getting that deal done.
The Pistons come into the season with a new leader in Stan Van Gundy and he has made it clear he wants to build the team through the draft and with smart personnel moves. Van Gundy had hoped to sign Greg Monroe to a long term deal this offseason, but the two sides could not agree and now he is in on a one year qualifying offer. According to ESPN.com, the Kings and Pistons tried hard to pull off a deal for Smith this summer and while that didn't work out, it could come later in the season at the deadline.
Van Gundy has Andre Drummond in on a long term deal and he wants the same for Monroe, as he is young at 23 years old and a much better player than Smith. The tough part is that Smith is on a decently big three year deal and he now is in year two of that deal after signing with Joe Dumars before he was fired. Smith and Monroe play in the same space and that has made it tough for the Pistons to find the rotation they want and moving Smith would help the team in signing Monroe.
Monroe is a great young player and the Pistons would like to keep him and they also like Jennings, but there is a chance they could look at trading him as well. The injury to Jodie Meeks likely will keep that from happening, but SVG is looking at everything for the Pistons and he could make some major moves at the deadline if the team is bad once again. Many think that Monroe will sign elsewhere next season, but he has said that returning to the Pistons remains an option and trading Smith could only make that more enticing for him.
Monroe, Drummond and Smith played together last season for stretches and that was difficult at times and now the Pistons may look at breaking up that trio. Last season Monroe averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game and he was very healthy, playing in all 82 games. Monroe is basically betting on himself, as he has only missed major time two years ago and in his other three seasons in the NBA, he has played in 80, 81 and 82 games.
Monroe will miss out on the first three games of the season for his suspension and that isn't a major issue for him or the Pistons. Smith is going to be a trade target for a number of teams, but the Kings appear likely to try again, as they see Smith as a solid compliment to DeMarcus Cousins in the front court. The Pistons decisions on trades likely will depend on how they start the first half of the season after missing the playoffs again last year.