The Detroit Pistons have added four new players to the roster this offseason, but may not be done dealing just yet.
They have been connected in several recent trade rumors, but so far, they seem to be just smoke, as nothing has materialized except for speculation.
It’s possible that Detroit is satisfied with the additions of Ausar Thompson, Marcus Sasser, Joe Harris and Monte Morris, and will go into next season with this current roster with one or two minor additions.
When they gave away most of their cap space in exchange for Joe Harris’ expiring contract, it became clear early on that the Pistons were not likely to swing for the fences on a free agent.
Instead, they may try to tweak the roster via trade and they have a few areas that need adjustment.
Detroit Pistons: Another trade coming?
As we’ve talked about ad nauseam, the Pistons likely have one too many big men, as there won’t be adequate minutes to go around for Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III and James Wiseman, especially when you consider the latter two players will be making $25 million combined next season.
That’s big bucks for two backup centers who can’t shoot, so the obvious move is to try to find a trade involving either Bagley III or Wiseman.
The same could be said of Detroit’s guard rotation, as they will have Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Alec Burks, Monte Morris, Killian Hayes, Marcus Sasser and Joe Harris all battling for minutes, and at least one of them is going to be left out of the full-time rotation, maybe more.
So trading a big and a guard makes sense, especially if Detroit could get back a veteran power forward in return. So would Detroit jump at this proposed deal?
Pistons unload potential to the Raptors in proposed deal
The Detroit Pistons still have an open roster spot, plus a two-way deal, so they could swing a trade that brings back one more player than they send out.
That’s exactly what happens in this trade proposed by Bleacher Report:
In this trade, the Detroit Pistons unload both Marvin Bagley III and Killian Hayes, two young players who still have unfulfilled talent, for two veteran power forwards, another backup guard and two second-round picks.
This trade would be giving up on two players who are 24 (MBIII) and 21 (Killian) for players who have seen better days and a guy who is 25 and has played just 144 NBA games in three seasons.
Neither MBIII nor Hayes have huge value on the trade market, but is this the best Detroit can do?
Pistons unload potential to the Raptors in proposed deal
Count me as someone who wouldn’t be extremely disappointed to see the backs of Marvin Bagley III and Killian Hayes.
MBIII has yet to prove he can stay healthy enough in a season to make a real impact, and he could be buried on the depth chart anyway while making $12.5 million in each of the next two seasons.
Hayes has shown what he can do well (pass, defend) and what he can’t (score) but is still only just 21, so it would be a bitter pill to swallow for Detroit, who would be giving up on a guy who they used a 7th pick on.
The return could potentially help the Pistons, as they do need a veteran power forward and they’d be getting two of them in this deal. But Thaddeus Young is 35-years-old and in the twilight of his career. He was a very good do-it-all forward at one point (averaging 18 points and six rebounds while playing good defense) but he played sparingly in just 54 games last season, so is hardly a guy you could count on in the rotation.
Otto Porter Jr. is only 30 and is a career 40 percent shooter from long range, but he’s rarely healthy, as he has played 8, 63, 28 and 14 games in his last four seasons. If healthy, he could be in the Pistons’ rotation next season, but that’s a big if.
Flynn would be buried in the depth chart and unlikely to play unless he could beat out Marcus Sasser for minutes at the final guard spot.
Second-round picks barely register as assets these days, as there are always ways to get them, but given that Detroit is still hamstrung by the first-round pick they owe the Knicks, having some extra second rounders can’t hurt.
So the real return for Detroit here would be cap space, as all three of the players they are taking on are on expiring deals, so they’d get out from MBIII’s second year and not have to worry about paying Killian Hayes in the future.
If at least one of the power forwards coming back was a healthy lock to make the rotation, this would be a slam dunk for the Pistons, but without that guarantee, it’s a little less palatable, though it would sort out the roster logjam at guard and center.
Unfortunately, if the Pistons want to get off these two guys, this might be the best they can do, as few teams are going to want to take on $20 million of two underperforming players. It’s not great for Detroit, but gives them some possible help at power forward and future financial flexibility.
Grade: B-