The Detroit Pistons have been one of the most surprising teams in the offseason this year after signing Josh Smith and trading for point guard Brandon Jennings and while the team has been very active, they could continue down that road, as reports say the team may deal Jennings again in an effort to get Rajon Rondo.
The Pistons were linked to both Jennings and Rondo earlier in the offseason and while many felt that Joe Dumars would stand pat after trading for the Bucks point guard, reports have come out from Pro Basketball Talk and other outlets that he is still interesting in dealing for Rondo. The Celtics may have interest in a deal as well, but both sides likely will wait to see who Rondo recovers from his injury from this past season. The Pistons could use Jennings to facilitate a trade with Boston or to get pieces they could use in another deal and two options for that are the Sixers and the Sacramento Kings.
The Sixers are an interesting option because they traded away point guard Jrue Holiday this past offseason and GM Sam Hinkie said the team would be active in the trade market, possibly with Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young, but the Kings are another solid option, as they too traded their point guard to the Pelicans in Tyreke Evans this offseason. The Kings are still deciding on whether to sign DeMarcus Cousins to an extension and adding a player like Jennings could help sway him to sign or to stay when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.
The Kings have been rumored in a number of deals this offseason after chasing both Monta Ellis and Andre Iguodala and reports had the team looking into trades with Jimmer Fredette, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes, with Fredette being the most likely to move. The former top draft pick has an expiring contract with a $2.4 million salary and the team could take him and the either use him as trade chip or get the cap space later on. Fredette has struggled since his rookie season and only averaged 7.4 points, 1.5 assists and 1.1 rebounds last year and that could mean the Kings may explore a trade option.
Sacramento has a new head coach and new regime at the top with an owner and general manager and as they embark into a new era, a trade may help turn things around, especially if it's Jennings, who averaged 17 points, 5.7 assists and 2.4 turnovers over four seasons with the Bucks, including last season when he averaged 17.5 points and a career best 6.5 assists and the trade could be a fast way for the team to rebuild. Evans was a former rookie of the year and the Kings decided to trade him to get out from signing him to a contract and now he has a deal with the Pelicans.
The Kings got Greivis Vasquez in the deal and while they signed Carl Landry as well, the team may feel an upgrade with Jennings could change things, especially with Cousins in the fold. Landry was signed to a four-year, $26 million deal to return to the team and after coming off the bench last season, he could be a solid option with Jennings if a deal goes through after averaging over 10 points and six rebounds per game.
