Naz Hoops

Two seasons ago, the 14-68 Detroit Pistons were the laughingstock of the league.

Today, the Pistons are an NBA-best 15-2, riding a franchise-shattering 13-game winning streak that hasn't been seen since the legendary 2003-04 championship squad.

But here is the unavoidable truth: This 15-2 start forces the front office out of the "Patience" lane and into the "Championship-or-Bust" highway.

Let's be real, their offense has one massive flaw: a severe lack of perimeter spacing.

Enter Lauri Markkanen.

He's dropping 29.3 PPG and shooting almost 39% from deep, the PERFECT fit to unlock Cade and Jalen Duren.

The catch? Utah wants Detroit's soul: young, defensive anchor Ausar Thompson, who the Pistons previously called untouchable.

Acquiring the injury-prone Markkanen, who has never made the playoffs, would also likely require the sacrifice of core depth (Harris's salary, Ivey's upside) and multiple first-round picks.

The asking price is terrifying, especially for a team firing on all cylinders.

But think of it this way: the East is wide open, and the window is NOW.

If you're the Pistons, you have to make that call.

A new career-high for Cooper Flagg in the Mavericks' win! 🐎 ROY🔥🔥🔥🚨