The Detroit Pistons might be frontrunners to land the famed Victor Wembanyama, but they still have the ongoing season to finish.
The Pistons are that the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 10-29 record and have already lost out on Cade Cunningham, who will reportedly undergo season-ending surgery on his left shin. He’s been out of action since November 9.
The results haven’t gone their way this season, and they are one of the teams with practically zero chances of making the postseason. The best option would be to rebuild a young and dynamic roster around Wembanyama next season. Some of their players are already on the radar of contending teams, and that might be the way to go.
The likes of Bojan Bogdanovic, Saddiq Bey, Marvin Beagley III, and Kevin Knox are some of the names floating around in the trade market, but there’s no doubt that Detroit will look to part with names that could get them some replacements tailored to help out Cunningham and the rookie next year.
On that note, we take a look at three players the Pistons could trade before the deadline this season.
3. Hamidou Diallo
Five-season-old Hamidou Diallo will be one of the players likely to be placed on the market as part of a package deal. The guard signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Pistons and is in his last year with $5.2 million.
Diallo is playing an average of 14.7 minutes per game and is putting up 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists this season. He can be a useful option coming off the bench and can work better with a rebuilding unit. Expect his name to pop up if the Pistons look at a potential three-team trade.
2. Alec Burks
Alec Burks is the fourth on the list of the top-earning players at Detroit with $10 million and has a club option for next year. He is set to make $10.4 million this season and is one of the more dependable names in the circuit as a bench-scoring option.
The New York Knicks benefited well with Burks on their roster and had a +6.6 net rating with him compared to the minutes he sat on the bench. This year, he’s averaging 14.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, spending roughly 21.5 minutes per game.
Earlier, Burks was linked to the Los Angeles Lakers in a proposed trade, according to NBA News Analysis, that would see the Pistons land Patrick Beverley, a 2023 Second-Round Pick (Chicago via LA), and a 2025 Second-Round Pick (LA).
The Pistons get a seasoned campaigner in Beverley, and the Lakers could use some scoring options. Most importantly, the finances work fine in this scenario.
1. Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanovic has been on the radar of some of the teams who are playoff contenders. In the absence of some of the key names, the forward has been crucial for the Pistons averaging 20.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.
The Croatian is the highest-paid Piston with $19.5 million and is in the final year of his contract, and is one of the players expected to find a new home before the trade deadline. Per Clutchpoints, a suggested trade sends him to the Miami Heat and, in return, gives the Pistons Duncan Robinson a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2026 second-round pick.
Dallas Mavericks is the other team linked to Bogdanovic. According to HoopsHype, the Western Conference side was keen to bolster the team’s offense. Per a source, the Mavericks were one of the teams alongside the Lakers, and the Heat was keen to acquire him.
Only time will tell where Bogdanovic lands before the end of the season, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he finds one of the big names.
Player salaries via Spotrac.
