NBA Draft Rumors: Trade with Hornets could net Pistons extra picks
The 2022 NBA Draft is just a day away and the rumors are swirling, many of them involving the Detroit Pistons.
This makes sense, as the Pistons not only have the 5th pick in the draft but also have more cap space than any team in the NBA.
There are lots of ways to use cap space, and while most fans focus on the big-name free agents, it’s just as likely that the Pistons would use their space to take on an unwanted contract in exchange for assets.
Detroit is reportedly looking to land another pick in the lottery, and could have a chance with teams like Portland, New Orleans, Washington and Charlotte reportedly open to trading their picks for compensation that will help them win now.
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In the case of Charlotte, they would like to move Gordon Hayward to clear cap space so they can retain Miles Bridges, according to a recent report.
The Hornets are looking to trade one of their two first-round picks alongside Gordon Hayward to clear cap space for retaining Miles Bridges, per @WindhorstESPN.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 21, 2022
As one of the few teams with cap space to make such a trade, the Detroit Pistons are likely to be mentioned in trade rumors involving the Hornets, who have two picks in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
Detroit Pistons: The Gordon Hayward contract
Hayward is 32-years-old and has played in just 93 games combined over the last two seasons. He’s still a productive player when healthy, but he’s not a guy you can count on physically.
And when you factor in his contract, which will pay him $30 and $31.5 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, you have a guy who is not going to be easy to trade.
That’s why it is going to take a team like the Detroit Pistons, who not only have the cap space to absorb such a deal, but are still rebuilding and would love to grab a few assets.
While most fans will just focus on the assets, taking on Heyward’s contract would potentially use all of Detroit’s available cap space, which would mean a guy like Deandre Ayton is probably not going to happen.
Detroit would be punting on this offseason and next, which would likely not be palatable for a team looking to improve around star rookie Cade Cunningham.
I don’t think Detroit would take on this deal, even for compensation, but for the sake of argument, let’s look at two different versions of trades.