We’ve talked all offseason about the Detroit Pistons’ roster and how it is unbalanced with too many centers and guards.
That problem has been exasperated by the absence of Bojan Bogdanovic and Isaiah Livers, which basically leaves the Pistons with one wing (Ausar Thompson) and a small-ball center masquerading as a power forward (Isaiah Stewart).
At some point they will need to address this through a trade or next offseason in free agency and the Pistons could really use a power forward who can defend and shoot the 3-ball.
An opportunity may have presented itself with a recent injury that could leave the Memphis Grizzlies looking for a big man.
Latest NBA injury news
According to Adrian Wojnarowski among others, Grizzlies’ starting center Steven Adams will be out for the season after undergoing surgery:
Grizzlies center Steven Adams will undergoing season-ending surgery for a knee injury, team says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 22, 2023
The Grizzlies will already be without Ja Morant, who is serving a 25-game suspension, as well as forward Brandon Clarke, who will be out until at least February with a torn Achilles, though there is currently no timeline for his return.
This is not an ideal start for Memphis, who has title aspirations going into the season but will have to start it shorthanded without three key rotation players.
The Pistons do have an extra big or two they could send the Grizzlies’ way, but neither Marvin Bagley III nor James Wiseman are clear fits in their culture, as they are basically the anti-Adams, as centers who aren’t great defenders or screen setters.
But MBIII would be an offensive upgrade and with so little big-man depth, the Grizzlies may be interested in a backup center who can fit with power forward Jaren Jackson Jr.
Possible trade between the Pistons and Grizzlies
Like I said, it’s hard to see Marvin Bagley III as a Grizzly but they are thin and have limited options.
Right now they have Xavier Tillman pencilled in as their starting center and not much behind him. Having an elite defender at power forward does give the Grizzlies more flexibility and Marvin Bagley III would give them some scoring pop down low that they don’t currently have.
But what could the Grizzlies offer the Pistons? Would it be enough?
I mentioned Ziaire Williams as a potential buy-low target for the Pistons this season, as he is an emerging forward who is athletic, has defensive upside and has been shooting the 3-ball better of late.
Of course, the Grizzlies may not see Marvin Bagley III as much of an upgrade and could just wait for better opportunities to present themselves or hope one of their young guys steps up. The Pistons may not see two projects as enough value to punt on MBIII, who has been good in preseason.
The catch with MBIII is that he never stays healthy, so trading him now would not only help the roster balance but prevent the Pistons from having to deal with the possibility of another injury.
While this might not be a blockbuster, it would give the Grizzlies more center depth and help clear the Pistons’ big-man logjam while taking on some project forwards, one of whom would likely be in the rotation right away.
The far riskier option
Trading Marvin Bagley III now would mitigate some risk for the Detroit Pistons. The first is the risk that he gets hurt at some point this season. The second is the risk that they will have to pay his guaranteed $12.5 million next season.
But he is a better bet to be in the rotation than James Wiseman, who would also be a safer gamble for the Grizzlies, as Wiseman is on an expiring deal. But would Detroit take a flyer on a player who is already hurt?
Brandon Clarke tore his Achilles back in March and there is currently no timeline for his return. When healthy, he and Wiseman are almost complete opposites, as Clarke is a very good defender with a limited offensive game and Wiseman is more of an offensive player who doesn’t defend much.
Clarke also has three more guaranteed years past this one, so Detroit would actually be taking on more long-term money than just sticking with Wiseman and waiting for him to step up or for his deal to expire.
The money and injury make this an extreme longshot for Detroit, though Clarke is a guy with a skillset they could use as they try to transform their defense into a respectable one and Wiseman might enjoy a homecoming to Memphis where he went to college.
With an extra big on the roster in Detroit, Memphis may come sniffing around now that Adams has been ruled out for the season, but it’s not clear if there is a trade that would interest both teams.