Breaking News: Pistons acquire Motiejunas and Thornton via trade with Rockets
By Duncan Smith
The Detroit Pistons were far from done when they made their big trade on Tuesday, adding Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton from the Houston Rockets.
As expected, the Detroit Pistons did not sit idly by on trade deadline day after trading for Tobias Harris on Tuesday. Left with a hole in the backcourt thanks to the absence of Brandon Jennings, departed to the Orlando Magic as part of that trade, the Pistons went out and acquired guard Marcus Thornton and power forward Donatas Motiejunas from the Houston Rockets in exchange for center Joel Anthony and a top-eight protected first round pick in the 2016 NBA draft.
Houston has traded Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton to the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell @TheVertical
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 18, 2016
In deal, Detroit will send Joel Anthony and a protected 2016 first-round pick to the Rockets, league sources tell @TheVertical
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 18, 2016
Motiejunas has been recovering from back surgery to repair a herniated disk in April and has only played 14 games as a result, but looks to be just about ready to get back on the floor, and will do so now as a member of the Pistons.
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In his limited action this season, Motiejunas has averaged 5.6 points per game with shooting splits of .500/.412/.643, and he is a stretch-four power forward who will absolutely fill the hole left by Ersan Ilyasova’s departure to Orlando. Suddenly, the four is no longer a weakness, assuming DMo is able to stay healthy.
As for Marcus Thornton, he has played in 47 games, starting six of them, and is averaging 10 points per game with shooting splits of .400/.338/.879. Those numbers are below his career splits of .426/.359/.831, but there is a trend of regression in Houston, and it’s possible that liberation from whatever sorcery is going on in that locker room may be just the cure for what ails him.
Next: 4-on-4: Examining the Detroit Pistons' trade for Tobias Harris
As for Anthony, he has played just 52 minutes this season and scored nine points. Removing his $2.5 million salary for the next two years from the books is a boon for the Pistons.
All in all, this has been a fine week for the Detroit Pistons.