The Detroit Pistons have new leadership with Stan Van Gundy and the team could look at trades this summer, as names like Greg Monroe, Brandon Jennings, Josh Smith, Andre Drummond and Rodney Stuckey could get moved in a deal for Deron Williams or LaMarcus Aldridge, as the franchise is looking to turn things around a big move could be a way to get that done.
The Pistons have locked up Drummond, so even with Van Gundy coming in that move is unlikely, but reports have Smith and Monroe potentially traded and those could be avenues to explore. Monroe is going to be a restricted free agent and he did not come to an extension with the team and that could eventually lead to a trade. The team added Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith last year, but that was done under Joe Dumars and Van Gundy may have other ideas.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, there is a chance that Williams wants to be traded away from Brooklyn and the Pistons could be interested in making a move. Williams has a huge contract and that makes things tough and the only way to get it to work would be moving Smith and Jennings and possibly Monroe as well. The Pistons have the chance to keep Monroe, but with Drummond already in the fold, it may not be the road SVG wants to go down. Howard Beck at Bleacher also wrote about the move and the 29 year old had surgery on both ankles and he could be traded so that the Nets can get younger and build around Book Lopez as well as Joe Johnson.
The Pistons love what they have in Drummond and that is one reason why they did not sign Monroe and he could get traded since the team basically has three players that need to work at the same position. Van Gundy has a long contract and can do what he wants and here he has the chance to make an impact. The Pistons have some big decision to make and they have the chance to be a player this summer, as Van Gundy brings some fire to the team and could even draw some free agents in after his success in Orlando and in Miami.
Last season the Pistons flirted with the eighth playoff spot for a hot minute before faltering and the team ended up firing long time GM Joe Dumars and now Van Gundy takes over. The team went just 29-53 last season and did not factor into the east playoffs and they ended up ranking 27th in the league in points allowed per game. The Pistons will need to shore that up and they averaged over 100 points per game, but they still can be more efficient on offense. The team has big men and ranked third in the league in rebounds with 45 per game, but the team was 24th in assists despite trading for Jennings and that is one reason why they could look at a Williams deal.
