Ladies and gentlemen, it’s official. The Detroit Pistons have set an NBA record. Unfortunately, it’s not the type of record that the team was hoping to set.
The Pistons just wrapped up the longest losing streak in NBA history. This team has dropped 27 straight contests. The Pistons are hard to watch. At some point, something is going to have to give in Motor City.
Typically, it’s best to be patient with a rebuild. Detroit may be an exception. By now, it may be best for them to simply make a win-now trade. Could they make a move for Dorrian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets receive: G/F Joe Harris, 2026 First-Round Pick (Top 10 Protected – DET)
Detroit Pistons receive: F Dorrian Finney-Smith, F Royce O’Neale
Ordinarily, there are benefits to losing NBA games. A team gets to increase their lottery odds. With that said, the lottery can have diminishing returns. At some point, a team has been there enough.
The Pistons have been in the lottery for four consecutive seasons. They’ve had varying degrees of success. Killian Hayes hasn’t looked like a lottery-level player. Cade Cunningham has, but Jaden Ivey has lost Monty Williams’ trust this year. Meanwhile, the jury is still out on Ausar Thompson.
Yet, all of that talent hasn’t amounted to any success. It’s amounted to the longest losing streak in NBA history. Perhaps the Pistons just need to get some veterans in the door. Could Finney-Smith be the right veteran?
Why The Detroit Pistons Do The Deal
Let’s talk basketball. The Pistons have a mismatched roster. They’ve got too many primary ball-handlers and too many bigs. They’re lacking 3-and-D wings. So, this deal balances the roster.
After all, they’re not just landing Finney-Smith here. They’re also grabbing Royce O’Neale. He’s a solid 3-and-D wing in his own right. This deal makes the Pistons a much better basketball team.
At this point, that might be their priority. Sure, the Pistons are mortgaging part of their future here. If they don’t make some improvements soon, players like Cunningham will begin to get impatient anyway. Should the Nets help them improve?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
By contrast, the Nets don’t owe their fanbase any strides. This team has given its supporters a lot to get excited about in recent years. With that said, this current group is a little bit underwhelming.
If the Nets controlled their draft, the obvious path would be to rebuild. They don’t. They owe their first-round picks, whether outright or via swap, to the Houston Rockets through to 2027. With that in mind, some will say that the Nets don’t have any incentive to trade two quality players.
Sure. On the other hand, the Nets are adding a valuable pick to a collection that’s already impressive here. Meanwhile, Harris’ expiring deal should appeal to them as well. This deal makes Brooklyn worse but it benefits their future – in the meantime, they shouldn’t be setting any NBA records.
