Detroit Pistons: 3 realistic trade destinations for Marvin Bagley III
Detroit Pistons: 3 realistic trade destinations for Marvin Bagley III
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks missed the playoffs this season, one year removed from the Western Conference Finals. From all reports, the writing is on the wall for veteran big man Christian Wood to flee in free agency. He averaged 16.6 points 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on 51.5 percent shooting. Wood was by far the most productive big in Dallas. His departure will leave a bigger hole in a facet of the game that’s been their downfall all season.
With Wood the Mavericks ranked dead last in the league in points in the paint at just 42.8 per game. Another area of concern was their inability to produce second chance points, at 10.9 per game that’s second worst in the association only behind the Chicago Bulls.
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Bagley could make an instant impact with Dallas, as he’s a natural scorer with an array of moves. Scoring in the paint is what he does best, averaging 8.0 points per game there, along with 2.8 second chance points. Those stats are both higher than Wood’s respectively, providing strength in the Mavericks’ weaknesses. Bagley would be a valuable asset for Dallas even if Wood had plans to stay, but since he’s likely bolting, Bagley could be their best option to bolster the interior. Dallas was already in need of more size, now they’ll be flat out desperate.
They’ll be shopping for a big man, and the trade market may be the best way to make that acquisition happen. If the Detroit Pistons did decide to part ways with Marvin Bagley III a return could provide depth on the wing. Tim Hardaway Jr. would likely be involved, the Mavericks would look shed his salary for the possible resigning of Kyrie Irving.
This would cost the Pistons some of their cap space, but be a way to get more shooting and balance their roster.
Hardaway Jr. hit 38.5 percent of his 3-point shots this season on over seven attempts per game and his salary actually goes down over the next two seasons. The Mavs get some help on the interior and cut payroll over the next two seasons.