The upstart Pistons must avoid making this huge trade deadline mistake

With so much excitement surrounding recent trades, it can be challenging for fans to understand that patience is needed when attempting to build a perennial contender.

The Detroit Pistons have been a pleasant surprise this season. Their blend of young talent and fresh coaching has helped them stay relevant and perform like a genuine postseason contender. While some would encourage Detroit to make a move before the trade deadline, it would be wiser for them to keep what they have.

Why the Pistons should stand pat before the trade deadline

Presently, Detroit is seventh in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. Even if it is unlikely, there is a world where they attain one of the top four seeds this spring. Outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks, the conference is largely filled with teams that either have major health concerns or a lack of All-Star talent.

On paper, there is nothing spectacular about the Pistons. They are a middle-of-the-road team in terms of points per game, field goal percentage, and assists per game. Defensively, they have been an above-average rebounding team, but have struggled to defend the three.

One could argue that the Pistons could get back solid returns for players such as Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Beasley, and Isaiah Stewart. But, the presence of these solid pieces has kept Detroit competitive. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has done a commendable job of getting the most out of the roster.

Further, it could be argued that these kinds of players have allowed Cade Cunningham to raise his level. He's averaging career highs in both points and assists. The 23-year-old was always an elite passer, but he has steadily become a more effective scorer.

"It’s hard to stop him,” Bickerstaff said of Cunningham earlier this month. “He makes the 3, he posts, he plays pick-and-roll, and he (plays in isolation). It’s hard for me to say one spot. I think the fact that he does it from so many different places is what makes him so effective. He’s not a guy who you can say, ‘He’s just going to be in this one spot and do this one thing."

“Whether he’s making shots, 3s, pull-ups, he’s finishing with his left hand, he can post with his back to the basket, find a jump hook."

Much of Cunningham's recent success has come while Jaden Ivey has been out with a broken left fibula. The Purdue product's absence has meant others like Marcus Sasser and Jalen Duren have been given more offensive responsibility.

Duren has been particularly good as of late. Across his last five games, he's averaging 16.2 points and 12.2 rebounds while shooting roughly 71% from the field.

It remains to be seen what Trajan Langdon and the Pistons' brass chooses to do before Thursday's deadline, but the best strategy may be to see how far Bickerstaff can go with a crew filled with individuals who may grant the team's young studs room to come into their own.