Detroit Pistons interested in acquiring Nikola Mirotic
The Detroit Pistons is reportedly interested in making a deal for Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic, who is having his best season to date with the Chicago Bulls.
The Detroit Pistons are interested in making a move, and if reports are true, the type of move is classic Stan Van Gundy.
After failing to strike a deal with the Orlando Magic for Evan Fournier, the Detroit Pistons are now in pursuit of Chicago Bulls small forward Nikola Mirotic who is having a career year.
The Pistons have joined Utah in expressing trade interest for Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 9, 2018
The prospect of Mirotic being moved before the Feb. 8 trade deadline looks increasingly likely, league sources say, with a deal potentially hinging on the level of draft compensation Chicago gets
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 9, 2018
Agree with @KCJHoop. Word is the the Bulls are determined to get a first-round pick in a Mirotic deal https://t.co/0uJYBZmbVz
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 9, 2018
As previously reported, the emergence of Markkanen, plus Mirotic eyeing big payday in 2020 free agency at time LaVine, Dunn on or due big deals, paint Bulls as motivated sellers.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 9, 2018
Judging by this series of tweets, we have a corroborated report that the Pistons are interested in Nikola Mirotic, which is further authenticated by Stan Van Gundy who said himself that the team is interested in making a deal, though he didn’t seem to know much about Mirotic when asked about it.
Mirotic is having a career season, averaging 17.0 points per game, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and shooting 46.5% from the floor and a blistering 46.5% from three–all career highs.
He’s also under contract for this season and next, which has appeal to Van Gundy who is evidently motivated to win now.
The report indicates that the Bulls are wanting a first round pick as compensation.
If the Pistons trade for Mirotic at that price, Van Gundy will be doing the exact opposite of what I have suggested for the team.
Mirotic is a really good player and I would love to see him on the Pistons, but not at the expense of a first round pick.
The Pistons should be doing everything it can to acquire assets–both in draft capital and young players on team friendly deals–and keep financial flexibility for the future.
Then again, a deal between the Pistons and Bulls could satisfy one of those requirements despite the other.
For example, if the Pistons were able to move its first round pick plus Jon Leuer for Mirotic, the Pistons would be netting an extra year of cap space, with Leuer’s contract ending in three years, against Mirotic’s contract of two years.
With the Pistons unlikely to draft very high in this year’s draft, the additional year of cap flexibility plus a netting a better (and younger) player in Mirotic would be a really good move for the Pistons.
Next: Where are the Detroit Pistons going?
I find a trade such as that near impossible, though stranger things have happened.