When the Detroit Pistons made their move to acquire Tim Hardaway Jr. in July 2024, it was looked at as a lateral move at best. Most thought that Detroit was just taking an aging scorer that would have little overall impact on the team's performance and overall culture. Now, not only did he and the rest of the Pistons prove everyone wrong during the 2024-25 season, but Detroit's second-round pick on Thursday night served to further emphasize just how much of a win this move was for the franchise.
The Pistons just selected Chaz Lanier from the University of Tennessee with their 37th-overall selection. The fourth-year guard is a physical driver with a strong frame who will bring exciting upside to Detroit's roster in 2025-26. With one more part of the Tim Hardaway trade now fulfilled, it's even more clear just how big of winners the Pistons were in this trade.
Let's re-visit the deal for a second, shall we? The Pistons gave up Quentin Grimes to the Dallas Mavericks, who in turn gifted Detroit back Hardaway, now Chaz Lanier, as well as two second round picks in the 2028 NBA Draft.
Detroit's 2024 trade only continues to look better
That's a considerable haul, and it looks even better for the Pistons now than it did a year ago. Tim Hardaway was a rock for Detroit all season in 2024-25, as the Pistons finally got back to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. Their massive turnaround can be credited in part to the veteran presence of number eight.
It was Hardaway's voice in the locker room that helped to guide the younger guys and provide them with a positive influence to look up to. Not to mention his timely scoring and floor-spacing abilities. Never underestimate the value of keeping around good veterans on your roster, especially when you have a team comprised of developing, impressionable young talent.
And then on the other side, losing Grimes may hurt at some level, but Detroit shouldn't feel bad about not getting the most out of him. Quentin didn't exactly reach his potential in Dallas either. It took a special situation with the Philadelphia 76ers for him to truly begin to thrive. It would be nice to have Grimes on this Pistons roster, but it's not worth thinking about at this point.
Overall, Thursday night's selection of Lanier was even more proof that Detroit came away from last summer's trade as massive winners. If it wasn't already clear after the end of this past season, it should be by now.