Detroit Pistons NBA Trade Rumors 2015: Joe Johnson Coming to Team?
The Detroit Pistons are at the very beginning of a rebuilding process. They have been hampered by a number of bad deals signed by former President Joe Dumars, caught in stagnation after their longtime owner died and his family worked to sell the team.
The Pistons last off season turned to Stan Van Gundy not only as the new President but as the team's Head Coach. Van Gundy has already made a number of moves that saved the 2014-15 season from being a complete embarrassment, he now has a chance to make a more or two to help secure the future of his team.
The Pistons are not in a position to make a move to win now. They cannot afford to mortgage prices of the future in an attempt to make a push towards the post season. Even though the team is just two games out of being the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Van Gundy has to work the phones and take the long view. He needs to find deal that will make his team better next season, not this one.
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The Pistons have had talks with the Brooklyn Nets over small forward Joe Johnson. Those talks have centered on the Pistons sending Brandon Jennings and some expiring contract to Brooklyn for Johnson. However at 33 years of age and Johnson salary of just over $23 million doesn't make much sense.
Van Gundy is on record with the Detroit Free Press that he is avoiding moves such as this one.
"We'll basically listen to anything, but we're not going to give up a valuable asset just to get a rental for two months. That, we won't do. We will not make a move that will make us better for the last 28 games and hurt us into next year," he said.
That comment seems to indicate the Pistons will hold on to their young affordable talent while possibly making a minor move or two to gain another piece they can build around.
