NBA Trade Window Begins Today: What does it mean for the Pistons?

Dec 11, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey (41) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) during the in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey (41) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) during the in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

On Dec. 15, the NBA’s trade market is finally able to heat up. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it will, however, as teams like the Detroit Pistons still have plenty of time to weigh their options.

The official trade deadline still does not occur for some time. Teams have until Feb. 9 at 3PM to finalize any agreements to improve, or sell, parts of their roster during this season.

Today, most players who signed new contracts during the offseason are eligible to be traded, opening flexibility for many teams within potential deals. This includes most of last summer’s free agents – Jalen Brunson, Malik Monk, and P.J. Tucker, to name a few.

Of course, most teams will not be looking to deal players that they signed to a substantial contract this past offseason. However, the Dec. 15 date allows teams to create further frameworks for deals by being able to include their most recent signees.

This date impacts a few members of the Pistons, while it may not be those that are included within immediate trade talks.

What does Dec. 15 mean for the Detroit Pistons?

Detroit has three players that become eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. Those are the team’s players who signed new contracts over the past offseason, including Kevin Knox, Marvin Bagley III, and Rodney McGruder.

To note, McGruder has the right to veto any trade should he be included in a Pistons deal this season. This is because he signed a one-year contract this past offseason, giving him Bird rights. So, McGruder can officially be traded, but must consent for the deal to go through.

With McGruder, Knox, and Bagley becoming trade eligible, Detroit increases its flexibility in the market more than it already has. Now, every member on the active roster is eligible to be traded.

Bojan Bogdanovic, who recently signed a two-year extension with the team, remains eligible to be traded as his extension did not meet or exceed a five percent pay raise. If Bogdanovic’s extension included such a pay raise, he wouldn’t have been trade eligible for six months from the date that the new deal was signed.

As reported by Shams Charania and James Edwards III of The Athletic (SUBSCRIPTION), it has been rumored that many teams are interested in Bogdanovic’s services. However, the Pistons may not be too fond with the idea of dealing him for anything less than a substantial return.

Detroit has Bogdanovic locked up for two more seasons thanks to his recent extension, which may provide the team with more production in upcoming years than they could find during the offseason free agent market.

Additional talks may open surrounding recent Saddiq Bey rumors also. On Dec. 15, teams around the league will have their trade flexibility increased, allowing for additional possibilities the Pistons may have if they were to give up Bey.

I’m not sure how keen the Pistons are to deal Bey just yet. I’d guess if any serious talks were to happen surrounding the third-year Villanova product, much closer to February’s deadline would be more likely. My gut tells me that Bey remains a Piston this year and receives a contract extension once he becomes eligible this summer, even with existing production issues.

Of course, crazier things have happened. To me, this upcoming trade window is the first feeling that the possibility of Bey being moved might be real.

As trade discussions around the league begin to heat up, I expect the Pistons to sit back and take time with offers that they receive for their most valuable trade chips, keeping any deals that are potentially agreed upon until we move closer toward the deadline.

If Detroit can receive any draft capital, or financial flexibility, for a player like Nerlens Noel, that deal could happen sooner rather than later.

The 2022-23 season is already considered a non-competitive year for the Pistons, thanks to the season-ending injury of franchise player Cade Cunningham. How GM Troy Weaver navigates the upcoming trade window will show the organization’s vision for future seasons more clearly by the moves that Detroit does, or debatably more importantly does not, make.