This day in Pistons’ history: A lopsided trade for the ages

On August 3rd, 2000, the Detroit Pistons sent Grant Hill to the Orlando Magic in a sign-and-trade deal that would bring back Chucky Atkins and Ben Wallace. Hill, a five-time All-Star, was considered the best player in that trade, and due to the plethora of unknowns, whoever gains the best player is considered the “winner” when a trade happens.

Hindsight is always 20/20, and it’s now hard to argue that Orlando won the trade.

In the next couple of years, the Pistons will look to find veterans who can augment the core they’re building through the draft. Let’s take a moment to look back at the trade that happened twenty-three years ago today, and perhaps we’ll see a path back to championship glory.

Ben Wallace takes the Detroit Pistons to the next level

During his time in Detroit, Grant Hill was one of the best players ever to wear a Pistons jersey. Selected third overall in the 1994 draft, Hill was the lone superstar in the years following the “Bad Boys” era.

Unfortunately, Hill struggled with injuries that derailed his career, and he wouldn’t return to solid form until his time in Phoenix, when he used his intelligence and experience to play excellent basketball alongside Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire.

Ben Wallace proved himself a defensive juggernaut when given the chance.  He was named an All-Star four times and Defensive Player of the Year four times. He helped lead Detroit to four conference finals and two Finals appearances while winning the championship in 2004.

Chucky Atkins served as a solid backup point guard.

Four years after this trade, Detroit celebrated a championship and Grant Hill had played 47 games for Orlando.

Hill was the best player in the trade, but Ben Wallace was the most valuable. His defense and leadership gave the Detroit Pistons an identity.

As the Pistons look to add complementary pieces around their core, we can keep this trade in mind. Sometimes, it’s better to find the right piece than the hyped piece. Giving players a defined role and allowing them to play in a system that maximizes their strengths while compensating for their weaknesses can help teams and players thrive.