Any optimism that the Detroit Pistons had coming into the season has been overshadowed by injuries, as the team is now eight games under .500.
The Pistons are currently 11-19, losing their last four games in a row.
However, they are only two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
Blake Griffin, plagued by lingering knee issues, has only played in 15 games, averaging a career-low 16.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Reggie Jackson has only played in two games this season, as he is dealing with a back injury.
Derrick Rose has missed six games due to knee soreness.
Only Bruce Brown Jr. and Langston Galloway have played in all 30 games for the Pistons.
With the team’s struggles, it seems like they would likely be headed for change.
The only problem with that is the reality of the NBA trade market and the value placed on some of the Pistons’ top players don’t match up in a way that’ll lead to a quick rebuild, according to Rod Beard of The Detroit News.
Even with Jackson’s expiring $18.1 million contract, his trade value is decreased due to the back injury he has dealt with most of the season.
After Griffin’s All-NBA season last year, his trade value was at its highest, but his continued injury history and remaining two-year $75 million contract make him an unlikely candidate to be traded before the Feb. 6 deadline.
However, owner Tom Gores could still trade the team’s stars for fractions of their value if they wanted to rebuild the roster that bad.
If that were to happen, young players like Brown, Luke Kennard, Sekou Doumbouya and Christian Wood would all be heavily leaned on.
