The Detroit Pistons extended Stewart, now it’s time for a trade

Marvin Bagley III’s contract was a bit of an overpay. The Detroit Pistons gambled on MB3’s potential, but the deal wasn’t going to derail the team’s plans, so I didn’t stress. I hoped the former second overall draft pick would make a leap forward with a new opportunity. Unfortunately, drafting Jalen Duren made him redundant, and the Wiseman trade made him repetitively redundant.

Moving on from Bagley’s $12.5 million, adjusted for the increase in salary cap, would balance out what the Pistons committed to Isaiah Stewart. This will be most important next offseason, as the Pistons look to assemble improved or skill-specific role players around their core before committing money to Cade Cunningham.

Can the Detroit Pistons trade Marvin Bagley III?

A couple of other teams should see value in Marvin Bagley III’s contract. He still has a lot of upside, and with players who can compensate for his defensive deficiencies, his offense and size could give a team a boost.

The Detroit Pistons might not get much back in return, but even if they get out of one year of Bagley’s contract, get a second-round pick or two, and have to eat some dead money this season, the flexibility would be worthwhile.

A million here and a million there and soon you’ve spent real money. Let’s keep in mind that NBA contracts are relative to the spending power of an NBA team. That said, the Pistons, at least for the next two years, need to ball on a budget.

Bagley’s contract isn’t exorbitant, but it’s money better spent elsewhere or perhaps by a different team.

Stewart’s salary, like MB3’s or anyone else’s currently on the roster, can be moved if needed, and these are precisely the types of contracts that help the team maintain flexibility. Some feel a small market team needs to overpay to get decent players. From what I’ve seen, players want to play for strong organizations, and small market teams can’t afford to overpay. They don’t have a margin for error.

Cap space doesn’t do any good unless you spend it, but it only makes good when spent well. The Detroit Pistons have too much invested in back up centers, and now that they have committed to Stewart, moving one of them makes sense.