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Trae Young isn't the only star the Pistons could trade for

Recent reports connect Trae to Detroit, but there's another seemingly available star who fits the Pistons better.

Aaron Johnson

Apr 17

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The offseason.

A time of hope for change.

Optimism rises as the doom of the previous season sets.

For the Pistons, the roster rumors that come during the offseason have already begun a mere days after the conclusion of a historically bad season.

As we await Detroit’s president of basketball operations search - and a decision on the futures of Troy Weaver and Monty Williams - speculation has peaked on who Detroit could target this summer.

According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Pistons are viewed by NBA executives as a potential dark horse team for the services of Atlanta Hawks star guard, Trae Young.

"The wild card might be the Detroit Pistons, who 'need to do something,' per multiple competing executives. Young is not the kind of point guard Detroit head coach Monty Williams tends to prefer, but conflict can sometimes lead to strange results."

Young would be a helluva get for Detroit.

He’d be the biggest star they’ve acquired since Blake Griffin in 2018.

But it may not be realistic.

Young would come at a significant cost and there would undoubtedly be a number of suitors for him - including a San Antonio Spurs team littered with draft capital and a burning desire to get a high-level guard to pair with Victor Wembanyama.

But you know who may be more realistic - and more attainable?

Brandon Ingram.

As the New Orleans Pelicans fell short down the stretch against the Los Angeles Lakers, Ingram was nowhere to be seen on the court.

Instead, he was glued to the bench. Sitting lifeless behind the rest of a Pelicans bench that was on its feet and animated during the final minutes of the game.

Even when Zion Williamson had to leave the game with three minutes remaining - left leg soreness ending a phenomenal night for Williamson - Ingram remained seated.

Instead, head coach Willie Green utilized a group of wings including Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, and guards Jose Alvarado and Dyson Daniels alongside CJ McCollum and Larry Nance.

It was alarming.

Sure, Ingram wasn’t playing great. He was 4-12 from the field and had just 11 points in 25 minutes. But McCollum was 4-15. He had a worse +/-.

Ingram is a really good player. On the season, he averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds on 49.2% shooting from the field, and 35.5% from the 3-point line.

He’s paid like it, too.

The Pelicans love their two young wings in Jones and Murphy. They have already locked up Jones long-term. Murphy has a team option for next season that they will be up. Ingram, 26, will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2024-25 season.

Could New Orleans look to leverage Ingram into a number of pieces to better complement Zion Williamson and full-on commit to Jones and Murphy?

Would the Pelicans value a young, scoring-minded guard like Jaden Ivey?

Could Jalen Duren be a long-term fit next to Williamson as Jonas Valanciunas hits free agency in the offseason?

As Detroit enters a pivotal offseason in which they must put better players around Cade Cunningham, sure Trae Young should be considered, but Brandon Ingram may be another name to keep an eye on.

He’d also make Detroit a helluva lot better.

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