Blake Griffin trade watch: How tradable is every Pistons player?
By Duncan Smith
Pistons tiers: No trade value
The following players have no trade value for the Detroit Pistons. To move any of them would require some kind of incentivization on their part, and as a result will almost certainly be playing out their contract unless they are waived.
As follows:
- Delon Wright
- Mason Plumlee
- Jahlil Okafor
- Frank Jackson
- Rodney McGruder
This group of five will join Blake Griffin in the ranks of players without value on the trade market. That’s fine because McGruder’s $5 million salary for next season is non-guaranteed, Delon Wright and Jahlil Okafor’s contracts expire after next season and Frank Jackson is on a two-way deal.
Mason Plumlee is a mainstay for whatever reason and will be a Piston through the end of his three-year contract, almost certainly. His trade kicker and three-year, $25 million salary virtually ensure it.
We have a sub-category of players who won’t be traded, and these are the rookies.
Pistons rookie class: No trades forthcoming
The aforementioned players aren’t going anywhere because nobody else is going to want to give anything up for them, but the rookie class is a different story.
They won’t be getting traded, but that’s because the Pistons want to see what they have in their rookies.
These players are as follows:
- Killian Hayes
- Isaiah Stewart
- Saddiq Bey
- Saben Lee
- Deividas Sirvydis
Results for each of them have been scattered so far. Killian Hayes struggled in his first seven games before going down with a hip injury. Isaiah Stewart is a fan favorite for his energy and effort. Saddiq Bey has spot-started and at times been a deadly shooter from long range. Saben Lee is a super-athlete who may develop into something.
Nobody is sure why Deividas Sirvydis is in the NBA.
For all these reasons and more, the Pistons will be holding onto these rookies this season.
Finally, let’s take a look at our neutral and positive trade tiers.