Mason Plumlee has played well so far, which makes him a potential trade asset for the Detroit Pistons.
When the Detroit Pistons signed Mason Plumlee to a three-year deal a lot of fans were scratching their heads.
Plumlee has always been a contributor but he didn’t make a lot of sense on this team as it tries to rebuild.
But after a great start to the season, Mason Plumlee is starting to make sense as a trade asset.
He is averaging 7.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game in 27 minutes, numbers that will look appealing to a lot of teams.
But as good as he has been, the Pistons don’t really need him and he is taking minutes from young guys like Isaiah Stewart and possibly even Sekou Doumbouya.
If the Detroit Pistons can identify a team that needs big man depth, they might be able to turn Plumlee’s very reasonable contract into a young player or draft pick.
One team that fits this mold is the New Orleans Pelicans, who are struggling to find depth behind Steven Adams and Zion Williamson.
Could there be a trade here?
Detroit Pistons: Trading Mason Plumlee to the New Orleans Pelicans
It should be noted that Plumlee cannot be traded until February 4th, so there is still some time for him to continue to build his value.
Could the Pistons get a project player with upside?
In this trade, the Detroit Pistons give up Plumlee for a young prospect and some salary filler.
Would this be enough for the Pistons to act?
Would the Pelicans be interested?
Detroit Pistons: Mason Plumlee to the Pelicans makes sense
Why the Pelicans would do it
The Pelicans currently do not have much of a bench, especially when it comes to bigs.
Their starting five has been very good but the bench has not. They don’t really have a backup for Brandon Ingram or Zion Williamson, and the only backup at center is 20-year-old Jaxson Hayes.
The Pelicans simply have too many guards on their roster and not enough bigs, something this trade would help fix.
Plumlee would improve the Pelicans’ second unit in several ways. He has been a very good passer this season, initiating the offense from the elbow and he can shoot enough to play in lineups with Zion.
Plumlee would give the Pelicans some size, rebounding and rim protection that they do not currently have off their bench.
He is on a very reasonable contract of just $8 million, which the Pelicans would have no problems taking on if they were able to make this trade.
What about the Pistons? Should they try to move Plumlee in year one?
Detroit Pistons: Trading Mason Plumlee has positives and negatives
Why the Pistons would do it
There is an argument for keeping Mason Plumlee.
He is a good team player, who is smart, selfless and will help Detroit build the kind of culture they are trying for.
But Detroit is going nowhere this season and probably not next, so they don’t really need Plumlee, especially with Stewart and Jalil Okafor on the roster.
When they signed him, Troy Weaver probably just thought Plumlee would be cheap filler as they rebuild, but now he is looking like someone who could net an asset.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a 22-year-old combo guard who has flashed some potential but is currently buried in the Pelicans’ depth chart.
He is playing sporadically now but with regular minutes, he could be a talent similar to his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This hasn’t happened yet but Detroit is a team that could give him those minutes and see what he’s all about.
It would be a low-risk move for the Pistons and it would actually clear some cap in the third year, as Melli has one less year than Plumlee.
It is a deal that makes sense for both teams, as the Pelicans build their big man depth without losing a key player and the Pistons get to take a chance on a guy with upside.