The Pistons are well-positioned to exploit the Bucks’ current roster disarray following their decision to deal superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in exchange for yet another upgrade to their perimeter firepower. One name from Milwaukee who could soon become available via trade is AJ Green, and he looks like an ideal fit in Detroit. Though he flew somewhat under the radar, Green ranked among the league’s most prolific deep threats a season ago, and his defensive adequacy ensures he contributes on both ends of the floor.
Acquiring Green would align neatly with the approach Detroit’s front office has already demonstrated, as seen in their recent pickup of Isaiah Joe for a pair of second-round selections. Over the past several years, the Pistons’ brain trust has judiciously stockpiled those second-round picks, positioning themselves to make incremental improvements once the team reached a competitive window. They’ve clearly concluded that this season represents that window and are now actively deploying those assets to patch up glaring holes.
Even with Joe now bolstering the shooting rotation, Detroit still finds itself in need of additional floor spacing given the considerable shooting deficiencies elsewhere on the roster. The team also has an apparent void at power forward, though that particular issue is better resolved through a more significant transaction. In the interim, if the Pistons want to bring aboard another elite marksman who offers competent defense, they need only look to their neighbors in Milwaukee.
Green’s shooting reliability since entering the NBA has been nothing short of remarkable. He has yet to post a single season with a three-point percentage below 40%, all while steadily ramping up his attempts from three per game to 7.1 over the course of his career. His 42% accuracy on those looks last year placed him in a very small tier of sharpshooters, a group that also includes Joe and Detroit’s own Duncan Robinson.
There is certainly a role for Green in the Motor City. While it’s true that skill redundancy can be an issue, elite outside shooting generally tends to be cumulative in its benefits. Green may not generate much offense for himself, but he demonstrates savvy in leveraging the defensive attention he attracts to create easy scoring chances for teammates—much in the way Robinson facilitated Detroit’s offensive rhythm a year ago. On the defensive side, Green holds his own within a team scheme, relying on sound positional awareness and solid physicality for a guard.
From a financial standpoint, his contract is quite manageable at four years and $45 million. That figure is roughly standard for a dependable role player, and the deal could conceivably be included as matching salary in a larger trade down the line should Detroit decide to go that route. For the time being, though, the Pistons would clearly benefit simply from seeing Green take the floor in their uniform. He may fit the label of a specialist, but his particular specialty happens to be the most valuable one a role player can offer in today’s NBA and it’s exactly the kind of asset this Pistons roster badly requires.
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