The Pistons’ best chance at making a big splash in the trade market seems to be Lauri Markannen. He’s been rumored as a Pistons trade target for years and fits the team perfectly on the depth chart. After a strong EuroBasket showing, there is even more momentum for Markkanen to get traded from the Jazz.
But if the Pistons play their cards right, they can add more than one valuable contributor in a potential trade with Utah. Georges Niang recently joined the Jazz roster, and he could be a nice piece for the Pistons to add as a trade throwaway.
Georges Niang: Proven Winner in the NBA
Niang may seem like a random role player but he actually has the most individual wins for an NBA player since 2020. Of course he is no star but his availability, skillset and positive locker room presence help teams succeed.
He’s a big body (aptly nicknamed “The Minivan” at the power forward spot who can stretch the floor and knock down 3s. Niang is a career 40 percent shooter from deep and has increased his volume in recent seasons to 5-6 attempts per game while maintaining that efficiency.
Everywhere he’s gone, teams have won. In 2021, the Jazz finished as the first seed in the West and had their best winning percentage in over 20 years with Niang on the roster. Then he moved to Philly and helped the 76ers put together a season good enough for Joel Embiid to win MVP. And last season, he started the season on the Cavaliers, who finished as the first seed in the East and had their best ever non-LeBron season.
Niang is just a role player but he knows his role very well. He’s committed to being a 3-and-D power forward, and it’s paid dividends for his career and the teams that employ him.
The Pistons are already lacking in power forward depth, and any trade for Markkanen would have to involve Tobias Harris to make salaries work. Harris is arguably the only true power forward currently on the roster, so the trade would leave them with only Markkanen as a real four.
Adding Georges Niang to the trade haul can be beneficial for both sides. The Jazz aren’t particularly interested in paying Niang’s salary and would rather use it on young players. For the Pistons, they can fit Niang into their traded player exception and avoid a long-term commitment because Niang’s contract expires after next season.
Georges Niang is an incredibly valuable role player whose mindset and complimentary skills make him a perfect player off the bench. Adding him to a Markkanen trade could help the Pistons become the most recent team to reach a franchise-best season with Niang on the roster.