Zach Lowe proposes big trade between Pistons and Bucks

Zach Lowe proposes big trade between Pistons and Bucks

This is the type of trade the Detroit Pistons should be pursuing when it comes to Bojan Bogdanovic.

Firstly, the Pistons get two players who are not bums in Allen and Connaughton, who would more or less replace Bogdanovic’s scoring in the rotation. Allen is a 40 percent 3-point shooter, and though fans don’t like him much, he’s a better defender than Bogdanovic and the Pistons would only be stuck with him for one year if it didn’t work out.

The sticker would be Connaughton, who has two guaranteed years plus a player option left on his deal. He could be well and truly washed by the end of that, but he’s only making $9.4 million, so it’s a number that the Pistons could absorb or potentially trade away.

The real reward would be that first-round pick in 2029, especially if it is unprotected. This entire Bucks’ roster, including Giannis, will almost certainly be gone or out of the league by then, and the Bucks could be relegated to one of the worst teams in the NBA.

It may seem like a long way away, but if the Detroit Pistons are finally good again, having what could be a top lottery pick in their pocket would be a valuable commodity as they try to add young talent or add another star just as their current players (the ones still on the team) are in the prime of their careers.

This is the type of move that can turn a franchise into a long-term winner or tip a trade that lands the star that gets them a title.

Considering that the Pistons haven’t even been offered one first-round pick for Bogdanovic as of yet, this would be the very high end of what they could expect in a trade, as this pick could end up being one of the most valuable commodities in the league by 2029.

It’s a gamble worth taking, as the Pistons wouldn’t lose much in the present (especially considering it would allow them to start Ausar Thompson right away) and could be setting themselves up for a huge future.