Detroit Pistons: 9 possible trades to use their cap space

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Detroit Pistons (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets

If we have learned anything about any specific NBA owners over this season and into the pandemic, it’s that Tilman Fertitta seeks for money. Even as the Houston Rockets compete against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round, the rumors around the Rockets’ future money-saving maneuvers still abound.

As expensive as James Harden and Russell Westbrook are, they should be considered untradeable. One for their importance to the franchise and the other due to their albatross of a contract each has. P.J. Tucker is in need of an extension and has been the foundation of their defense.

There are only two more Rockets that make over $10 million per year. Robert Covington should fall in the Tucker category. That leaves only Eric Gordon. He is getting ready to start a four-year, $75.6 million contract extension. Gordon already struggled with health this season so the Rockets would be smart to look to move on.

Unfortunately, many of Houston’s future picks are spoken for, but their 2022 or 2023 first rounders are still available. Should they attach one of them as well as a second-round pick, that could be enough to get the Pistons to bite and bring in the former teammate of Blake Griffin during their time with the LA Clippers.

Of the choices on this list so far, this is the most variable. There is a world whereby 2023 the Rockets have blown up and are bad, making the pick valuable. There is also a world where they are not and the Pistons blow their cap space on an even older Gordon. High risk, high reward indeed.

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