NBA Trade Rumors 2014: Detroit Pistons to Trade Josh Smith to Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez?

The Detroit Pistons made a big splash during the offseason, but the moves they made last summer have yet to produce good results.

The Pistons, who currently hold a 16-22 record in the weak Eastern Conference, acquired Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith last summer, but one of them could be dealt before the trade deadline.

Grantland reported that the Pistons could consider trading Smith before the trade deadline on Feb. 20.

Smith, who signed four-year deal worth $54 million in July last year, is posting decent numbers for the Pistons this season. The 28-year-old forward is averaging 15.6 points along with 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

However, sources said that the Pistons are leaning towards dealing the high-flying forward since he is stunting the growth of second-year center Andre Drummond and fourth-year center Greg Monroe—a fact that could convince the Pistons to trade Smith before the deadline.

However, the Pistons could find it hard to deal Smith due to his fresh four-year deal unless a team that is looking to win a title in the near future expresses interest in him.

One possible trade is a deal involving the Brooklyn Nets, who are obviously in a win-now mode after the expensive major roster shakeup they made last summer.

The Pistons could consider trading Smith to the Nets for injured center Brook Lopez, giving Brooklyn a player who can help them become a stronger contender this season.

"One off-the-wall suggestion a few NBA folks on other teams have mentioned to me in recent days: What if the Pistons offered Smith to the Nets for Brook Lopez? The Nets get a player who can help them now in exchange for a player who can't, and who has suffered chronic foot injuries," Grantland noted.

Acquiring Lopez will give the Pistons a crowded frontcourt, but it would put them in a better financial situation since Lopez could be off their books in the next two years.

Aside from a Smith-for-Lopez swap, the Pistons could trade Smith to a team looking for a proven star like the Charlotte Bobcats, but they will likely need to package picks in order to convince other teams to take the four-year contract of the All-Star forward.