The Pistons might look prudent for not parting with significant assets to acquire LaMelo Ball, but passing on him could prove to be a costly oversight. Ball would have provided Detroit with an established facilitator and shot-creator, instead of relying on younger pieces to eventually grow into that role. Moreover, the actual price for Ball wasn’t necessarily steep if those pick swaps end up amounting to little.
Detroit let LaMelo slip away
At first glance, Minnesota appeared to surrender a hefty package for LaMelo Naz Reid, an unprotected first-rounder, three pick swaps, and three second-round picks. But in all likelihood, most of those assets beyond Reid and the single first-rounder may hold minimal real value.
Interestingly, the Pistons dealt their own counterpart to Reid Isaiah Stewart for a far lesser return. Both were beloved bigs off the bench who played key roles in their teams’ recent ascents, yet both became expendable as their franchises aimed for upgrades.
The distinction lies in Minnesota’s shrewdness: they packaged Reid with additional pieces to land a second star, whereas Detroit appears to have moved Stewart at a low point in his value. The Wolves might have pulled off quite a coup by convincing Charlotte that future pick swaps carry weight, even though Minnesota is unlikely to ever boast a better draft position than the Hornets moving forward.
In the end, the Wolves secured an All-Star caliber player who could have benefited either franchise. LaMelo Ball has drawn no shortage of criticism over his showmanship and perceived lack of winning impact, but he’s also demonstrated that he’s a severely undervalued offensive catalyst. He averages 21 points and 7 assists per game over his career. Ball will undoubtedly alleviate some of the offensive burden on Anthony Edwards, and he could have done the same for Cade Cunningham.
The gamble was justified
Sure, there’s a chance the Wolves eventually part with more than one valuable pick if Ball’s injury troubles resurface or Minnesota stumbles through a rough season. But that’s a calculated risk for a team that has solidified itself as a recurring playoff presence, yet still sits a notch below the Western Conference elite.
Detroit hasn’t reached Minnesota’s level of playoff achievement just yet, but the trajectory suggests they’ll find themselves in a similar spot within a few years. They might have bypassed some early postseason heartbreak by adding a star like LaMelo Ball right now.
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