Five Pistons trade proposals
By Dan Feldman
The FanSided NBA sites got together and proposed a trade for each team.
"Detroit sends Luigi Datome to New York for Pablo PrigioniThe Pistons filled their huge need for another point guard in the wake of Brandon Jennings’ season-ending injury by signing John Lucas III to a 10-day contract. Expect Lucas, who has played exceptionally well so far, to get another 10-day deal, too.But Lucas doesn’t exactly give the Pistons peace of mind at point guard. D.J. Augustin is starting, and while he’s also performing admirably, he’s playing too much. Maybe Lucas can carry a larger load, but he was available for a 10-day contract for a reason. Maybe rookie Spencer Dinwiddie will soon be capable of doing more, but his presence in the rotation necessitated Lucas’ addition in the first place.Prigioni is not an upgrade over how Lucas has played so far this season, but Detroit can’t count on that run to continue. The 37-year-od Prigioni — an efficient and low-volume shooter who’s a plus passer and minus defender (despite his ability to get steals) — would provide insurance.At next to no cost — Datome is on an expiring contract and has role in Detroit’s present or future — why not? The only drawback would be the $290,000 Prigioni is guaranteed next season, but that’s a relatively small amount. Plus, Prigioni has no guarantee date, meaning the Pistons could hold him until Jennings is ready to return — whether that’s before training camp or into the season — and then release Prigioni.For the Knicks, the whole idea is dumping Prigioni’s, admittedly low, 2015-16 salary. It’s to late for him to help him this season, and in a market like New York, the extra cap space next summer is more valuable than Prigioni.If the Knicks can get a second rounder for him elsewhere, go for it. But it’s a buyers’ market on point guards, and the Pistons should hold firm with this offer.If New York rejects it, Detroit is fine, as is. But a little extra point guard depth would be more useful than Datome."
Four other sites also suggested trades involving the Pistons.
"Nuggets Get: Spencer Dinwiddie, Luigi DatomePistons Get: Jameer NelsonThe Denver Nuggets are on the verge of blowing up the current iteration of their roster and starting the long, hard journey of rebuilding. General Manager Tim Connelly and Head Coach Brian Shaw put the team on notice a couple of weeks ago, saying if the team didn’t give them a compelling reason to keep the band together, changes would be made.The Nuggets continue to struggle, so it looks like Connelly will have no choice but to start dismantling this roster. If the franchise is indeed looking to build from the ground up, it’s likely they will look to acquire young, inexpensive players or players with expiring contracts. If that’s the case, the Detroit Pistons might be an ideal trade partner.With point guard Brandon Jennings lost for the season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Pistons are in need of help at the PG position. The Nuggets recently acquired Jameer Nelson in a trade with the Celtics, but rumors already are swirling that he could be available on the trade market. Nelson is attractive to Detroit because he has a player option at the end of this season. If he ends up being a solid fit in Detroit, there’s a chance the team could get him to agree to back up Jennings (or start, if Jennings’s rehab takes longer than expected) next season. If not, Nelson could walk and the Pistons wouldn’t be out much.On the Nuggets end, they could receive two players in return: rookie point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and 27-year old Luigi Datome. Dinwiddie attended the University of Colorado and would be welcomed with open arms in Denver. He’s owed $700K this year and is scheduled to make less than $1 million each of the next two seasons. He has struggled with some injuries, but the Nuggets would have some flexibility with the cheap contract, whether they decide to keep him on the roster or make him part of an additional move. Datome doesn’t offer the Nuggets much in the way of production, but his $1.75 million contract expires at the end of this season, leaving the Nuggets with the option of re-signing him for cheap or letting him walk and opening a roster spot for future maneuvering.If the Pistons want immediate help at the PG position, Nelson would be an immediate upgrade. And if the Nuggets are going to strip the current roster and start the fire sale, they could do worse than bringing Dinwiddie back to Denver in hopes of scoring a little positive PR with the local fan base."
I wouldn’t do this.
Jameer Nelson would be a marginal upgrade over John Lucas III as D.J. Augustin’s backup. And I’m hardly sold on Dinwiddie, a second rounder who has played like one.
But the benefit of getting older – and committing to Nelson’s player option for next season – just doesn’t justify the cost.
"Minnesota sends Mo Williams to Detroit for Anthony Tolliver, Draft PickThe Timberwolves are willing to trade everyone on the roster short of Andrew Wiggins and probably Ricky Rubio. That said, it’s going to be hard to move many of their non-expiring contracts.Basketball operations boss and head coach Flip Saunders no doubt would love to move swingman Chase Budinger, who has a player option for $5.5 million next season and is unhappy as part of a painfully young, rebuilding Wolves squad. Of course, Budinger is barely worth the money even if he were to revert to his pre-Minnesota form as a deadeye long-range shooter and decent wing defender, and to this point, knee injuries seem to have sapped much of his former value.Thaddeus Young is in a similar spot, with a player option north of $9 million for next season. Nikola Pekovic only plays 60-65 games per season and is owed a ton of money over the next few years. Most of the rest of the team is on their rookie contracts and likely won’t be moved for various reasons.Mo Williams, on the other hand, is on an expiring contract and could provide a scoring punch off the bench for a contender, similar to what he provided for the Portland Trail Blazers last season in their run to the second round of the playoffs.The Clippers, Heat, Cavaliers, and Pistons are all said to be interested in Williams on various levels, but it will be tough for Saunders to glean much in return. The Clippers and Cavaliers have stuffed their benches full of over-the-hill veterans that the Wolves wouldn’t be interested in, and there aren’t that many expiring contracts. The Heat and Pistons have a handful of young players that the Wolves could be interested in if the deal is expanded. If Williams is the only player that the other team wants, however, this deal would work for Minnesota.Tolliver is under contract for next season at $3 million, but only $400k of it is guaranteed. The Wolves don’t necessarily need another tweener (Young, Anthony Bennett, and Robbie Hummel all qualify), but they could use veteran leadership and outside shooting. Of all the contracts that would match Williams’ in a deal, Tolliver’s would be the most attractive for Minnesota.The draft pick could be in either 2015 or 2016, as Stan Van Gundy has a full compliment of picks to move in the near future. If the Pistons had any interest in Budinger (they would if his contract wasn’t so steep for next season — great job, Flip), the Wolves could ask for rookie point guard Spencer Dinwiddie in return, and possibly Joel Anthony to balance the contracts out, although they probably wouldn’t get a pick anymore in this iteration of the deal.More likely than not, however, the Wolves are realistically just shooting to bring back a draft pick or two at the 2015 trade deadline. But anything could happen."
I wouldn’t do this.
I’m not giving up a draft pick to move around reserves, especially when the sweet-shooting Tolliver fits so well in Stan Van Gundy’s system. Could the Pistons use a little more perimeter scoring? Sure. But dealing Tolliver would create another hole (though Jonas Jerebko could patch it).
"Philadelphia sends Michael Carter-Williams to Detroit for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Spencer Dinwiddie and a future draft pickThe Sixers won’t be active during the trade deadline, unless it’s dealing some of their players for second-rounders. However, the player that is always rumored to be on the trading block is Michael Carter-Williams. If the price is right, Sam Hinkie will move him. Detroit needs a point guard to make a playoff push with Brandon Jennings out. Even when Jennings returns, MCW will be a cheap backup for a few years.The Sixers do this, because they get a future first, a former lottery pick in KCP and Dinwiddie, who can give point guard depth and deserves playing time to show his potential. Philly would only part with MCW for the right price tag and this combination from Detroit would do it."
I wouldn’t do this.
It’s an overreaction to a potentially short-term problem. Adding Carter-Williams would create a logjam if Jennings returns healthy and productive. You don’t give up multiple first rounders – Caldwell-Pope’s value is the equivalent of one – for a backup, which the author suggests the Pistons make Carter-Williams when Jennings returns.
Even if Jennings were ignored from the equation, Carter-Williams’ poor shooting makes him a poor fit with Andre Drummond offensively (though Carter-Williams’ length and Drummond’s mobility would create interesting defensive versatility).
If Jennings never returns to form, maybe the Pistons regret passing on this. But if he does, it’d create new conundrums
"Jazz trade Trey Burke and Ian Clark to Detroit Pistons for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Spencer DinwiddieWith Dante Exum recently taking over the starting Point Guard position, the Utah Jazz may be looking to trade Trey Burke. If Burke is to be traded, the Jazz will likely be looking for a 3-and-D asset in return. Shooting and perimeter defense are the teams biggest needs, as they are 19thin the league in three point shooting percentage. This need has been amplified by the season ending injury to Alec Burks and the injuries rookie Rodney Hood has been dealing with.Adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would be a good solution for the Jazz. KCP has not been the shooter he has billed as out of college. Part of the reason for this is the situation he has been in. When you are on a team with Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, you never know when you will see the ball. This can lead to forced shots. Working in a pass happy system like Snyder’s, Caldwell-Pope would be a much better shooter. Quin has been able to get the Jazz players to play better defense as of late, and he would droll over the opportunity to have someone like KCP defending the wing. Spencer Dinwiddie is a good prospect and would be able to take over the back up point guard role for the Jazz.With the career-damning injury to Brandon Jennings, Detroit’s future at point guard is now unclear. Should they look to add a point guard, hometown-hero Trey Burke would be a good option. Brandon Jennings had a good season before he went down. Burke would be able to step into the role he was playing. Burke has done a good job at getting good looks for Derrick Favors throughout the season and would be able to run an effective pick-and-roll with Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe. Ian Clark could be kept for some wing depth, or waived for cap room."
Apparently, Purple and Blues has a dastardly plan to re-divide Pistons fans along the lines set with the 2013 draft.