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.
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.
Detroit Pistons: Possible trade for Gordon Hayward
First off, I should say that Hayward is still a good player when he’s not hurt. He can make plays, hit shots from all over and would undoubtedly improve the Pistons’ woeful 3-point shooting.
But if the Pistons are going to take on that entire contract without sending one back (giving the Hornets maximum cap relief), then it should cost Charlotte both of their picks.
It seems unlikely that the Hornets would move both of their picks just to clear cap space, but there has to be motivation for a team to take on over $60 million of an oft-injured and 32-year-old Hayward.
It’s possible Detroit would settle for just one of the picks, but if they were able to pry away both, could potentially flip them for a higher pick with a team that might want to move back.
The Pistons would send out Cory Joseph to offset a small amount of Hayward’s salary, but this would still leave the Hornets space to go after another player and re-sign Bridges if they are willing to go into the luxury tax.
There have been conflicting reports about the Hornets and Bridges, including ones that say they are “hesitant” to match any max deal. That may leave the Pistons inclined to just make an offer to Bridges instead, who is younger and doesn’t have Hayward’s injury concerns.
I am not sure one pick at the end of the lottery is enough to take on Hayward, so this deal probably wouldn’t appeal to the Detroit Pistons unless they were getting additional assets.
Detroit Pistons: Possible trade for Gordon Hayward
The other option would give the Hornets less open cap space, but would send them back a useful player, who would potentially allow them to pass on Miles Bridges if they don’t want to pay him the max.
It has long been reported that the Pistons are looking for a young player and a pick to move Jerami Grant, and this would give them half of the equation.
The Hornets would have to be more comfortable paying Grant in the future than they are paying Bridges, but would still pick up around $10 million in cap space next season and then get off Hayward’s final year of $31.5 million.
From the Pistons’ perspective, they are taking on that year in exchange for a lottery pick, which they may not get in a Grant trade otherwise, as it seems a stretch that a team like Portland is going to give up the 7th pick for a guy on an expiring contract who has never made an All-Star team. They’d also keep a big chunk of their cap space in the exchange, which would allow them to potentially add another player in free agency.
I don’t particularly like either of these trades for the Pistons, though if they could keep Grant (or trade him to someone else) and still get a pick, it might be more palatable.
We’re going to hear the Detroit Pistons in a few more trade rumors before the big day, so stay tuned.