Detroit Pistons: 10 worst trades in franchise history

Allen Iverson #1 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Allen Iverson #1 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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Detroit Pistons, Lindsey Hunter
The Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon (L) and The Detroit Pistons’ Lindsey Hunter battle for a loose ball (Photo by ANDREW CUTRARO/AFP via Getty Images)

Did the Detroit Pistons get it wrong when they flipped Saddiq Bey for James Wiseman? I don’t know. It’s too soon to say. Thanks to hindsight however, we can look back and see the times when the Pistons did get it wrong.

Every franchise has trades they wish they could undo, so here are the 10 worst in franchise history for the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit Pistons: 10 worst trades in franchise history

#10 Acquired second-round draft choice from Denver in exchange for Arron Afflalo, Walter Sharpe and cash considerations

Aaron Afflalo turned out to be a good player. The Detroit Pistons peddled him off far too soon. In many cases, I’m all about acquiring draft picks, but not in every case. Why we gave up on Afflalo, I’ll never know. At the time it was questionable at best, and history hasn’t been kind as this decision has aged. Afflalo spent 12 seasons in the NBA all-told and averaged a career-high 18.2 points per game at his peak. Detroit should have kept him.

#9 Acquired Billy Owens for Lindsey Hunter

Lindsey Hunter was drafted to replace Isiah Thomas, an impossible task that was unfair for every party involved, including the fanbase. Pistons fans had unrealistic expectations for Hunter, the 10th overall pick of the 1993 NBA Draft. Of course, Hunter couldn’t live up to them and as the team fell on hard times, he was somewhat scapegoated. Luckily, he was brought back to the franchise in time to help it win a championship in 2004. However, it’s a shame that Hunter didn’t spend his whole career here as he remains somewhat unheralded to this day.