The Pistons reportedly explored bold moves this offseason as the rest of the East made major additions around them, but Detroit ultimately stayed the course. John Collins represented the biggest addition for last season's No. 1 seed, raising questions about whether the Pistons can maintain their place in the conference.
If Detroit was willing to make a major move in the offseason, though, a splashy in-season acquisition could be on the table.
If the Mavericks are willing to part with Kyrie Irving, the former All-Star point guard may very well be the best option for the Pistons to take the next step.
Here's a look at the potential of a Pistons deal for Irving.
The Pistons are "fond" of Irving's game, according to ESPN's Vincent Goodwill.
"If Detroit has the stomach to go after it this year, they could go after someone like Kyrie Irving in Dallas," Goodwill reported. "Several staffers are fond of Irving’s game, shot creation and malleability next to ball-dominant stars like James and Luka Doncic."
The fit makes sense. While Cade Cunningham is a point guard, Irving proved next to Doncic in Dallas that he can play a bit of a different role. Doncic still averaged nearly 10 assists per game playing with Irving, and Irving found ways to be highly impactful without being "ball-dominant," as Goodwill hints.
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The Pistons know they have their star in Cunningham, but it might be hard to make the case they have the right No. 2 option if they want to win the East. Finding offense outside of Cunningham was the primary issue when Detroit lost Game 7 of the East semifinals to the Cavaliers in the spring. Irving, if healthy, would solve that issue.
Would the Mavericks be willing to trade Irving? It would probably make sense for Dallas to let him prove he's healthy after 19 months away from the court following a torn ACL, but with a brand new regime headed by Masai Ujiri and Dusty May plus tempered expectations this season, a midseason deal could be on the table.
