The Detroit Pistons have been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and after firing Mo Cheeks, the team could look to trade Josh Smith or Greg Monroe at the trading deadline and clubs like the Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers could be interested.
Monroe has been mentioned as one of the top options in trade rumors this season since the team did not extend him before the deadline and on top of that, ESPN.com reports that the team could look to trade Smith. The Pistons signed Smith to a $50 million contract in the offseason, but that hasn't stopped them from looking to deal him and now that they have fired their head coach, which could be the first of many dominoes to fall for Joe Dumars.
USA Today reports that both Monroe and Smith are on the trading block and that Andre Drummond is safe and now that Mo Cheeks is gone, the team could get blown up. The Cavaliers or the Pelicans could be an option for a deal, as both teams need a big man and while Monroe is far and away better than anyone they would give up, the Pistons may want to try and get something for him rather than lose him as a free agent for nothing. Smith is shooting terribly from long range and he has not helped make the team better in any way and now he could be on his way out of town already.
The team is 21-29 on the season and while that isn't totally out of it in the east, ownership felt that the team was not showing enough progress to continue with Cheeks. According to ESPN.com, he was fired just 50 games into the season on Sunday and now Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins could be one of the top options for the job, but that may not come until the offseason.
The Houston Rockets have been looking like a team that will make a deal art the deadline and someone like Omer Asik could be in the mix, as he has been mentioned in trade rumors all season. Whether or not the Pistons make a move at the deadline, Monroe will likely not be with the team next season and he could be the first to get moved if they do decide to deal.
