The Detroit Pistons made headlines and faced significant criticism after voiding a trade for Denver Nuggets forward Bol Bol after he failed a physical. There had been no indication of any current health problems, so it looked a bit fishy from the outside. However, it has been announced that the young big-man is undergoing season-ending surgery.
There was a degree of excitement when it was announced that the Pistons were trading for Denver Nuggets’ 7-foot-2 Bol Bol, a player with immense potential who has played little in Denver, as he has had constant injury issues.
The son of the late Manute Bol seemed like the sort of buy-low, high-reward player that was worth taking a flyer on for a rebuilding team like Detroit.
However, after sending Rodney McGruder and a second round pick to Denver, and with McGruder already practicing for the Nuggets, who already had given away Bol’s uniform number, the Pistons proceeded to void the trade with Bol Bol after he failed his physical.
Accusations of funny business by Detroit’s medical were wide-spread, especially from former NBA player Donatas Montejunas. He was traded to Detroit years ago, only to have the trade voided by a failed physical which derailed his NBA career. He continues to play in Europe.
The trade that sent Bol Bol to the Detroit Pistons was reportedly voided because he failed his physical.
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) January 14, 2022
Former NBA PF @DonatasMot tells @RickKamlaSports and @Mitch_Lawrence he has questions about it and thinks the NBPA should independently review Bol Bol’s physical health. pic.twitter.com/yNOWBluv6E
In particular, the accusations focused on the fact that Bol’s foot issues were well documented. He missed nearly all of his lone season at Oregon due to it, and has missed time in Denver as well.
Being so tall and thin, Bol Bol is susceptible to foot injuries.
It was announced by Shams Charnia of The Athletic that Bol Bol has undergone season-ending surgery on his foot. Vindicating the Pistons decision.
Denver Nuggets forward Bol Bol has decided to undergo surgery on his foot and will be sidelined for 8-to-12 weeks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Bol’s trade to Detroit was voided last week because of issue with physical exam.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 18, 2022
This matters because Bol is only under contract for this season, so the plan was clearly to have Bol get some playing time down the stretch of this season, and then the Pistons could make a good, educated decision on whether or not it was worth giving him a new contract this summer, with him under team control.
With the discovery that he requires season-ending surgury, it makes perfect sense for the Pistons to have voided the trade. Denver has continued to insist that they believed he was healthy, but they sold a bad bill of goods to the Pistons, and with Bol not playing the rest of this season, there is no reason for them to have him.
If they really want to take a flyer they can do it this summer, without giving up a pick or a player.