The Fan Hub

The Detroit Pistons are having a terrible season. They are 9-22 and are in last place in the Central Division. After winning five of their last seven they should avoid a historically bad season, but the only thing they will compete for this year is a lottery pick. Yet a couple of Pistons will be playing alongside each other in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge on Feb. 22 during All-Star weekend in Orlando. Rookie point guard Brandon Knight and second year center Greg Monroe were each drafted by Shaquille O’Neal to play on his team for the challenge.

Knight and Monroe have been bright spots in what has been an otherwise miserable season for the Pistons. Knight is averaging 12.1 points per game, and despite his below average player efficiency rating, many believe he will develop into a solid starting point guard. Monroe is averaging 16.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and is quickly emerging as a top tier center in the NBA. These two players, in conjunction with the high draft pick they should receive at season’s end, give the Pistons a young nucleus to build around for the future.

Trading away veterans Ben Gordon and Tayshaun Prince for draft picks and salary cap space might not be such a bad idea either. Getting rid of Gordon is a no brainer his $11 million plus salary off the books would be great for the Pistons. The Pistons like Prince, as evidenced by the 4 year, $27 million contract they rewarded him with earlier this season, but trading him to a contender with Gordon for a package of picks and young players makes sense for a franchise that is rebuilding.

— John Axelrod