NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 trades to save Jordan Clarkson from the Lakers

The Detroit Pistons are firmly in the playoff race but appear to have a slightly lower ceiling than some of the other mid-tier teams in the East like the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers. They still appear to be a few moves away from really solidifying themselves as the up-and-coming team they’d like to be.

Avery Bradley will be a free agent at season’s end and it remains to be seen if he’d want to re-up in Detroit. In addition, despite his defensive reputation the Pistons have been much, much worse at that end when he’s on the floor. Sending him out for Clarkson would give the Pistons another shot-creator with size on the wing and potentially add a bit more offense.

The Lakers could simply let Bradley walk at the end of the season and take the cap space for their free agent extravaganza. The Pistons would also have to include something like Stanley Johnson to make the salaries work. He is not an expiring contract but could be useful as a low-cost wing defender with upside.