Top 2 trades the Clips must make before the 2025 NBA trade deadline

The Detroit Pistons have made significant strides this season. They are finally showing the league that they are ready to shed their rebuilding label and embrace a more competitive identity. A combination of talented young players, smart offseason moves and a renewed focus on winning basketball have put the Pistons in the playoff conversation. However, staying competitive requires bold decisions. How is 2025? NBA trade deadline approaching, Detroit has a chance to make the leap from playoff hopefuls to legitimate contenders with a few key moves.

A refreshing change

The 2024-25 season was a refreshing change for Pistons fans. This has been a far better season for them than anyone expected. After posting a historically poor record last year, the team surprisingly moved on from head coach Monty Williams and he was replaced by JB Bickerstaff. The move has proven to be a huge success this season. As of this writing, the team is at 22-21. That’s good enough for a possible Play-in spot.

In the middle of the season, they already have seven more wins than the whole of last season. So it should come as no surprise that the organization is now considering buyers before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. If the Detroit Pistons decide to go bold over the next few weeks, get ready for some surprising trades headed the Motor City’s way.

Here, we’ll discuss the top two trades the Detroit Pistons need to make before the 2025 NBA trade deadline.

To acquire Collin Sexton – Spark plug

The Pistons have long needed a reliable secondary scorer to complement Cade Cunningham. Collin Sexton of the Utah Jazz fits that role perfectly. This 26-year-old defender has been a proven player throughout his career. He is able to create his own shot and put relentless pressure on the opposing defence. Sexton is currently averaging a solid 18.3 points per game for Utah, but his role with the Jazz has been inconsistent. Detroit can take advantage of this by acquiring Sexton and immediately putting him in a much-used role as an outside partner for Cunningham.

Sexton’s ability to push the pace and attack the rim would fuel the Pistons’ offense even more. His goal would not only ease the burden on Cunningham. It would also open up opportunities for shooters like Malik Beasley and Jaden Ivey. The Jazz are likely looking for young assets and draft picks. The Pistons can offer them without losing their roster. Packaging someone like Marcus Sasser, a future first-round pick and second-rounder, could pique Utah’s interest while keeping Detroit’s core intact. Adding Sexton’s aggressive style to the mix would make Detroit a more balanced and dangerous offensive team.

However, if the Pistons are serious about becoming a contender, they need a proven winner like Jimmy Butler. The Pistons would make quite a statement by buying Butler to accelerate their restoration in a dream scenario. His veteran leadership and defensive intensity are invaluable to this young team. Butler’s experience could speed Detroit’s return to the playoffs, as the Pistons are close enough as they are.

Of course, buying Butler won’t come cheap. Still, Detroit has the means to make it happen. A trade package with several players and multiple first-round picks could be enough to get Miami into a rebuild. Remember that Butler’s all-around impact more than makes up for any players thrown into the mix. That’s apart from Cunningham, Jaylen Duren and Auzar Thompson, of course. Butler’s arrival would not only boost Detroit’s playoff hopes this season. It would also establish the Pistons as a destination for other stars in the future.

As for Miami, they would get valuable assets, including possibly Tim Hardaway Jr. and Tobias Harris. They could also get a first-round pick to bolster their draft flexibility.

Why these moves are mandatory

The Pistons have been building a promising foundation for years. However, now seems to be the time to take advantage of it. Note that Detroit is playing much better than expected. Trading for Colin Sexton and Jimmy Butler would inject the perfect mix of youth, scoring and veteran leadership into this roster, positioning Detroit as a legitimate contender in the wide-open Eastern Conference. These moves aren’t just about this season — they’re about reclaiming the Pistons’ legacy as a franchise that thrives on guts, heart and championship ambition. The trade deadline is an opportunity to prove that the Motor City is ready to make noise again — and Detroit can’t afford to let it pass them by.