Pistons' fan favorite drawing interest from three contenders

Portland drafted Stewart in 2020 with the 16th overall pick. He was traded to the Rockets and then the Pistons. Since then, he has become a core member of the team's rotation, making a total of 214 regular-season appearances. This season, the hulking big man has appeared in 25 games, averaging 10.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, shooting 45.5% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range.

However, the Pistons may have a hard time striking a deal. Stewart recently agreed to a four-year $60 million contract. As such, his incoming cap hit would be more than double the $5 million he's making this season, while his outgoing salary hit to Detroit would only be the value of this year's contract. It gets confusing pretty quickly, and oftentimes makes it difficult to get a deal over the line. 

Out of the teams Edwards mentioned, only the Oklahoma City Thunder are likely to be in a position to make a move before the trade deadline. If Detroit would prefer to create a bidding war for Stewart's services, they may be better served waiting until the summer, when the "Poison Pill Provision" on his deal expires. 

It's easy to see why contending teams are interested in the 22-year-old, though. His work rate has been exceptional since entering the league, as has his commitment to improving on both sides of the court. As the best teams around the league continue to add size and length, Stewart's physicality would be an ideal counter. Given the Piston's struggles this season, cashing in on one of their more tradeable assets makes sense, especially if they're looking to obtain some veteran help to give more balance to their struggling roster. However, they may need to show some patience if they want the best return possible for a genuine fan favorite.