The Detroit Pistons were at the center of the offseason action once again yesterday, making another trade with the Knicks that sent over Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks.
Details of the trade are still being finalized, but it also appears Detroit will get two second-round picks and around $6 million in cash to take on these two salaries and allow the Knicks to clear cap space to make a run at Jalen Brunson.
It’s too early to say who won this trade, but the Knicks are almost certain to win a title if they add superstar Jalen Brunson to their already loaded roster (HUGE SARCASM ALERT).
The Detroit Pistons might not be finished, though they could certainly roll into the season with what they have, hold onto their cap space and be in position to be major players in free agency and trades again next offseason.
They also made a qualifying offer to Marvin Bagley III, making him a restricted free agent and increasing the chances he will return next season, so Detroit went from having a shortage of big men to having five guys who can play the center position.
Before we take a look at some of the potential depth chart options for the Detroit Pistons, what kinds of players are they getting in Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks?
Detroit Pistons: Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks
According to Omari Sankofa II (among others), the Pistons don’t currently have plans to buy these two players out and will bring them onto the roster next season:
Can confirm that the Pistons intend to bring Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel into next season. ESPN first.
— Offseason O (@omarisankofa) June 29, 2022
Both players offer skillsets that Detroit needs, so it makes sense, especially with a roster that is so young.
Noel is a guy I have wanted for the Pistons for ages, as he provides some toughness and the rim protection that they have lacked. He only played 25 games last season for the Knicks due to injury, but the season before he averaged 2.2 blocks in just 24 minutes per game.
You know what you are getting with Noel, which is a guy who can block shots, run the floor and will shoot a very high percentage because all he does is dunk. He’ll be a great mentor to their young bigs and will give them a veteran body to go up against in practice.
Considering Jalen Duren is going to be the youngest player in the NBA, it was smart for the Pistons to get a veteran so that they don’t have to throw an 18-year-old into a role he isn’t ready for yet.
As for Burks, he is a quality role player who can play a couple of spots and has shot over 40 percent from 3-point range over the last two seasons. Burks has also been hampered by injuries for most of his career, but he played 81 games for the Knicks last season and will give them another smart veteran to put around their young guards.
The question is what the Pistons’ depth chart is going to look like, who will start and how Dwayne Casey is going to integrate them into the rotation.