Detroit Pistons: Is this proposed Lakers trade for Alec Burks enough?

The Detroit Pistons have been steadfast in their assertion that they will not trade Bojan Bogdanovic or Alec Burks unless they get something of value in return.

They’ve said it will take a “tremendous return” to move either of them, but what that actually means could change as the trade deadline gets closer.

It would be tough to get equal value for Alec Burks, as he is a productive player on a team-friendly contract, so certainly worth more than the two second-round picks some teams have reportedly offered.

The Pistons would be comfortable just keeping Alec Burks rather than taking on someone else’s trash and what amounts to a crap shoot of a second-round pick.

But teams (and their fans) may not be willing to part with much more, as it evident by this proposed trade from our friends at Lake Show Life, who see Burks as a possible target for the Lakers.

Detroit Pistons: Proposed trade of Alec Burks to the LA Lakers comes up short

While Burks would undoubtedly be a great addition to any contender, I can’t blame teams for not wanting to give up a ton to get him, as he is a role player who may not be enough to move the needle and probably isn’t worth a first round pick unless there are heavy protections.

So these are the types of proposed deals I’ve been seeing:

In this deal, the Detroit Pistons would take back an expiring contract and the Lakers’ 2023 second-round pick, which is currently the 38th selection.

It’s not far off, as the Pistons won’t want to take on long-term money and some of their guys could benefit from being around Beverley’s defensive intensity if he actually had any interest in playing in Detroit and didn’t just ask for a buy out.

The second-round pick is a “good” one, at least for now, but could drop if the Lakers start winning when Anthony Davis comes back, so there is a chance it would be much lower by the time the draft rolled around.

This is what makes trading Alec Burks difficult, as he is worth more to the Pistons than packages like this, but isn’t valuable enough for teams to offer much more. Unless one of them does in the form of a young prospect player or a better pick, it’s likely Burks remains in the Motor City.