on the one hand, you look at the east as being so weak that even this pistons team can win it. what they really needed was more shooting and they upgraded in that department from ivey to heurter. ivey was a declining asset and moving him now for even a slight upgrade this season is a positive. if things hold to form and minnesota doesnt go all in and get giannis, the pick swap is likely to gain the pistons 5 or 6 spots in a loaded draft.
on the other hand, the east is so weak and the pistons refused to make a move for a much needed second star or for better pieces that work around cade. they go into the playoffs with a massively flawed team and didnt bother to upgrade. this is likely the last best chance to massively upgrade and now their future is cade/duren/ausar. is that three as your core enough to win? or do you need to go the dallas/luka route, build the team around cade with 3 and d players and one more star bucket getter? the pistons are not that, instead, they are cade surrounded by a couple old shooters who cant defend, and a couple defenders who cant shoot. your betting the future on duren's continued development.
tobias' spot is ok for this season and then wasted because they didnt move it when they could. same with duncan robinson.
they kept their powder dry and didnt go all in for JJJ or markannen or murphy, herb jones, or even zion. theyre rolling with flawed.
Now, watch them make a big move thursday and make all this moot.