Rumors: Detroit Pistons could have interest in New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina
Potential trades for Ntilikina
This is where it gets tricky. The Pistons have several players with high salary figures and many with small salary figures. Fortunately, Ntilikina is only on the books for $4.86 million in 2019-20 with a player option for $6.18 in 2020-21.
He will be a restricted free agent heading into the loaded 2021 free agency, which bodes well for the Pistons to have a clean sheet if they’d like.
This seems like the most likely potential deal. The salaries work out and it clears a roster space so the Pistons can keep Wood and Johnson. Detroit loses a potential fifth big man but get a fourth point guard with potential to possibly pair with Doumbouya moving forward.
Unfortunately, Thomas didn’t have a great rookie season, shooting 31.9 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from 3-point range in 23 games. Drafted out of Creighton in the second round last season, his contract is easily movable and he still offers potential to the Pistons or whoever may acquire him down the road.
But if the Pistons want to address their small forward deficiencies or add a fifth big man, they could do something like this.
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New York would get some immediate cap relief with Taj Gibson signed for the $9.45 million in the 2020-21 season. But this trade wouldn’t be executed until Dec. 15, when newly-signed free agents are eligible to be traded.
The same goes for a potential Marcus Morris reunion – both with his twin and the city of Detroit. Remember that Markieff said his twin brother sold him on playing in Detroit, since the Pistons weren’t on Markieff’s radar prior to free agency opening.
In all reality, it makes it a tough trade to do because the Detroit needs to figure something out before Oct. 23, its first game of the season. It’s hard to see a larger trade than what was previously listed to occur before a roster decision needs to be made in order to keep Johnson and Wood.
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What are your thoughts on the possibility of acquiring Ntilikina? What trade package would you send for him?