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2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 6, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Pistons

In a sort of “blah” 2016 NBA Trade Deadline, it’s tempting to dub the Detroit Pistons as the big winners — or at least, the most dramatically changed team.

In the first deal of the deadline earlier this week, the Pistons hoodwinked the Magic into surrendering the 23-year-old Tobias Harris for nothing more than backup point guard Brandon Jennings and stretch-4 Ersan Ilyasova…and didn’t even have to surrender a first round pick in the process.

Jennings looked like a shell of himself in limited action after returning from last season’s Achilles injury, and though Ilyasova was Detroit’s best long range threat at 36.3 percent, he wasn’t exactly living up to his billing as a “sharpshooter” this year. All hail Stan Van Gundy, the greatest thing to happen to the city of Detroit since Eminem.

Harris just signed a four-year, $64 million extension last summer, which means he’s locked in for the long-term in Detroit, where he’ll immediately boost their playoff chances. His 31.1 percent shooting from deep this season is worrisome, but he also wasn’t given a chance under Scott Skiles and should be a much better fit in SVG’s spread offense. Also, he’s only 23, and shot 36.4 percent from deep last season.

The second deal the Pistons made was a little riskier, but has the same kind of potential payoff if he can get healthy.

In a deal with the imploding Rockets, Detroit sent its 2016 first round pick (top-8 protected) and Joel Anthony to Houston for stretch-4 Donatas Motiejunas and backup guard Marcus Thornton. D-Mo is a restricted free agent this summer and has only played 14 games due to back problems, but if he’s re-signed can stay healthy, he’s an ideal fit for Van Gundy’s system at age 25.

After all, D-Mo looked like he was on the verge of a breakout year last season, averaging 12.0 points and 5.2 rebounds in 28.7 minutes per game while shooting 36.8 percent from three-point range.

A core of Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris, Tobias Harris and Donatas Motiejunas is tantalizing, and it’s remarkable how quickly SVG has been able to tailor his personnel to his liking. Thornton’s gunning off the bench will also help a second unit that ranks 29th in points per game.

That pick the Pistons sent to Houston is currently a lottery selection and seems like a hefty price to pay for an injury-prone restricted free agent, but if the Pistons make the playoffs and climb the standings, it’ll become less valuable in a shallow 2016 draft class.

Grade: A

Next: Golden State Warriors