Is Saddiq Bey untouchable in a Pistons trade to the Bulls?

The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching and the Detroit Pistons have been at the center of many of the trade rumors.

Just about every contender has been mentioned in trade rumors for Jerami Grant, and it makes sense, as the Pistons are rebuilding and the versatile forward would help almost any roster and could be the piece that pushes some team over the top.

One team that has consistently been mentioned is the Chicago Bulls, who have the trade package for Grant but have reportedly been reluctant to include young forward Patrick Williams.

Williams showed flashes of being a solid two-way prospect in his rookie season, hitting 39 percent from 3-point range and often defending the other team’s best player.

He’s also a guy the Pistons were reportedly very high on coming into the 2020 draft and if the Bulls hadn’t snatched him away with the 4th pick, he might have been taken by Detroit with the 7th instead of Killian Hayes.

He’s the right age and would give the Pistons another top-5 draft pick to build around, but what would they be willing to give up to get him?

A proposed Detroit Pistons trade to the Chicago Bulls

Chad Ford isn’t trying to make any friends in Detroit, as he recently thew some gasoline on the Cade Cunningham vs. Evan Mobley debate, and then proposed what looks like a lopsided trade for the Chicago Bulls.

Who says no? I do, Chad, I do.

This is basically a trade that has been floated for a while, but now Saddiq Bey has been thrown into the mix, a deal the Bulls would probably consider since he replaces the high-ceiling prospect and can slide into either forward position.

But this would be too much to give up in my opinion, as the Pistons would be getting only one high-ceiling player who is coming off a serious wrist injury and two expiring contracts, so there would have to be a first-round pick involved for Detroit to even consider this deal and they’d probably still say no.

Bey has been playing like a guy you build around, not trade away, but that doesn’t mean he’s untouchable in a trade to the Bulls. Just not this trade.

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant/Saddiq Bey trade to the Chicago Bulls

The trade proposed by Chad Ford is not a good one for the Pistons and there is no way they are giving up both Bey and Grant for just one player who is signed beyond this season, even if Williams is a fit and a guy Detroit likes.

For Detroit to give up both Grant and Bey, Chicago would have to significantly sweeten the pot, as Bey is better than Williams (right now) and is still on a rookie deal. Jerami Grant is a contributor who is on a team-friendly contract, so the Pistons would be potentially giving up the two best assets, which ain’t happening.

If the Bulls want both Grant and Bey (and a real chance to win a title this year), they are going to have to pay up:

In this trade, Troy Brown Jr. gets swapped out for the Coby White and the Bulls throw in a first-round pick they are getting from Portland on top.

This is one that would at least get both teams attention, though I am still not sure it is palatable for either one. The Bulls could toss in Troy Brown Jr. as well, which would give the Pistons another expiring contract and the money still works for the trade.

But who says no?

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey traded to the Bulls, who says no?

In this trade, the Bulls would be getting back a starter in Grant and a solid bench player in Bey who would improve their overall depth and defense.

Adding these two could make the Bulls the favorite to win the Eastern Conference and they still have a young forward in Bey to build for the future, which takes the sting out of losing Williams.

I think they’d potentially balk at throwing in that first-round pick and would probably rather give the Pistons Brown Jr. but I could definitely see the Bulls saying yes to this one.

The Pistons would be getting a high-ceiling two-way forward who could easily end up being the best player in this group. They’d also get 21-year-old Coby White, who is already a nice scorer off the bench (though he does overlap with Frank Jackson skill-wise) and would give the Pistons some additional offensive pop and shooting.

Derrick Jones Jr. is a nearly $10 million expiring contract, so the Pistons get additional cap space to pursue a free agent like Deandre Ayton and possibly another shooter.

With Williams, the Pistons would have three top-5 draft picks to build around (including their pick in 2022 if it lands in the top 5), as well as a ton of cap space, and a player in White who is under contract at a reasonable number for next season.

I know the Pistons (and the fans) are high on Bey, but Williams has Kawhi Leonard potential while Bey has more “solid role player for 10 years” potential, so it is something to consider.

I think this would be a high risk/high reward move for the Pistons and I can’t see them doing it, but if Chicago really wants to make a run, this is the type of deal they should be putting on the table, as they aren’t getting Grant without giving up Williams.