If the top-seed Detroit Pistons flame out against the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs, they are expected to undergo some changes. They might be big. Appearing on ESPN's Get Up, NBA insider Shams Charania said he expects the team to go star-hunting, and he wouldn't rule out Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks as a potential target.
Pistons make plenty of sense for Giannis if traded
Despite being the top team in the East this season, Detroit is currently down 1-3 in the first round vs. the Magic. If they fail to rally back, this season will be a failure. Ironically, they would become the first top seed to lose to an eighth seed since the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023. That type of embarrassment is exactly what a team needs to get the wheels turning on offseason changes.
When the Bucks were upset by the Miami Heat in 2023, they swung big and traded for Damian Lillard out of nowhere. It felt like a necessary move that could help wipe away the ugly memory from one of the franchise's lowest moments. If the Pistons suffer the same fate, perhaps they take another page out of Milwaukee's book and try to get Giannis, whose future with the Bucks is far from clear.
They do have some interesting pieces to make an offer. While Amen Thompson is the more intriguing brother, Ausur Thompson can certainly play as well. He'd be a nice wing to help start a rebuild/retool, along with an assortment of other players and draft picks. There wasn't much chatter about Detroit being interested in Giannis this past season, but it would make plenty of sense for that to change.
Magic are also quietly lingering in the background
If the Pistons storm back and knock out the Magic, then their interest in Giannis may increase. NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype recently reported that Orlando did indeed express interest in the Greek Freak leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline. If they upset the top seed, they might have second thoughts about breaking up the roster, but this is Giannis. It may depend on how far they go.
Orlando's potential offering isn't as appealing as Detroit's, largely because they shipped out a good chunk of their draft capital in the Desmond Bane trade last summer. However, they do still have one of the more intriguing pieces league-wide in Paolo Banchero, an All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick. He could be an interesting centerpiece in a post-Giannis world.
Who wins this series could have a drastic impact on which of them shows the most interest in trading for a star like Giannis, if he does become available this summer.
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