Done Deal: The One Acquisition And One Trade That Will Help The Pistons Contend In The Upcoming Year.

The hiring of Trajan Langdon to complete the massive amount of work required to mend this wreck of a club was the Detroit Pistons’ first summer duty.

We’ll have to wait patiently for Langdon’s judgments on Troy Weaver and Monty Williams, but in the meanwhile, we can only speculate about what he might do after he picks the coaching staff and front office.

Based on the team he helped establish in New Orleans, Langdon could attempt to strengthen the defense in the summer.

There are undoubtedly other areas of weakness for a club that has won 14 games, but the Pistons’ flimsy defense stands out as the most evident.

 

They may add a seasoned backup to fight for the slot, or they might solve it by selecting a rim-protecting center in the draft or free agency, which might require dealing Jalen Duren.

The Pistons may also focus on the perimeter, where Ausar Thompson is already a strong defender.

There are two players in particular that might contribute to the Detroit Pistons developing a new identity—the list of possible perimeter defenders is broader than the list of rim-protecting centers.

The Pistons might return to contention with just two trades, but it remains to be seen if either would be feasible.

Let’s examine a possible signing and deal that might help the Pistons immediately become competitive.