As usual, the NBA trade rumor mill is dominated by big market teams and superstars like LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets. Small market teams like the Detroit Pistons often get the short end of mock trades and reports, but a savvy move by first-year President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon makes the Pistons a team to keep tabs on.
On Sunday, the Pistons waived backup center Paul Reed, who was slated to make $7.7 million this season. With the roster move, the Pistons have opened up roughly $15 million in cap space, the most in the NBA. Insiders are expecting another domino to fall in the Motor City.
“The Pistons cut Paul Reed, and fell below the salary floor,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on his self-titled podcast on Monday. “They ended up signing another guy off their G League team today (Javante McCoy)…watch the Pistons as a third team.”
As teams try to navigate the first and second aprons, including the Pistons as a third team makes sense. For a price, Detroit would happily take on contracts, expiring or otherwise, to help propel their rebuild.
This offseason, the San Antonio Spurs took on Harrison Barnes from the Sacramento Kings so they could complete the trade that brought in DeMar DeRozan. In return for opening their wallet, the Spurs received a first-round pick via the Kings, and Barnes was named Western Conference Player of the Week and is shooting a career-high 44.4% from deep. Detroit could follow that blueprint.
“They purposely came into the season with a bunch of salary cap space to play around with,” added Tim Bontemps. “With the difficulties teams are going to have making deals, you’re going to have to have every trade be a three-team trade.”
As massive salaries like those of James, Butler, Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal and Jerami Grant are expected to be on the move this season, teams looking for some flexibility could turn to Detroit, who is still rebuilding and tanking with the hopes of turning the franchise around in the coming years. For now, they are biding their time.
More NBA: Ranking 29 LeBron James landing spots if Lakers move him before NBA trade deadline
