A recent report links the Detroit Pistons to Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby as well as Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris.
“League sources tell The Athletic that Detroit is expected to be active in the trade market over the next few weeks and are eying a forward,” The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III wrote. “One player I’m hearing that the Pistons are interested in, as is the rest of the league, is Toronto’s OG Anunoby. However, it’s possible Detroit will wait to see if it can land Anunoby in the open market next summer — the two-way wing has a player option for next season that he’ll most certainly decline — and avoid giving up some of its young players. Tobias Harris, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season, is another name the Pistons could target sooner rather than later if he becomes available before the NBA’s February trade deadline.”
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Pistons are in trade rumors. With the team struggling, some new blood could be exactly what’s needed. The Pistons have lost a franchise-record 22 games in a row, and at 2-23, they own the worst record in the entire NBA right now.
The last time the Pistons picked up a win was when they took on the Chicago Bulls back on Oct. 28, which was almost two months ago now. Detroit beat the Bulls by a final score of 118-102.
Detroit is fresh off one of its most embarrassing losses of the 2023-24 regular season to this point thanks to Joel Embiid and the 76ers. The Pistons lost to Philly by 32 points on Friday, and four out of Detroit’s five starters — Killian Hayes, Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson — failed to reach double digits in scoring.
Pistons big man James Wiseman led the team in scoring off the bench. In 28 minutes of playing time, he dropped 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 shooting from the free-throw line. He also finished with 13 rebounds and one block. It wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Unfortunately for the Pistons, the next game on their schedule is against one of the best teams in the league. Detroit will play Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on the road on Saturday. Considering the Bucks have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 17-7, it seems unlikely that Detroit’s losing streak will come to an end against Milwaukee.
It appears that the Pistons’ best chance of snapping their losing streak in the near future will be when they host Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz on Dec. 21. The Jazz own a 9-16 record, which is just the 12th-best record in the Western Conference, though they are riding a two-game winning streak. Utah’s wins have come against the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers.
