NBA Trade Grades: The Pistons and Kings swap guards

Mar 17, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey (left) and guard Delon Wright (55) and head coach Dwane Casey (middle) and forward Jerami Grant (9) and guard Josh Jackson (20) stand on the court during an official time out during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

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NBA trade grades Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Pistons got the ball rolling on NBA trade deadline day, and we’ve got your NBA trade grades from their deal with the Sacramento Kings.

It comes as no surprise that the Pistons made the first deal of the deadline period considering how incredibly active they’ve been since the start of the offseason, turning over almost the entire roster with the sole exception of second-year player Sekou Doumbouya.

NBA trade grades: Pistons and Kings swap guards

In the first trade of the deadline period, the Pistons and Kings conducted the following deal:

Detroit gets:

Cory Joseph
Los Angeles Lakers 2021 second-round pick
Sacramento Kings 2024 second-round pick

Sacramento gets:

Delon Wright

Like Wright, Joseph played for Pistons head coach Dwane Casey in his previous stop with the Toronto Raptors and should be able to step into what is expected to be a backup role in a point guard core of Dennis Smith Jr., Saben Lee and Killian Hayes when he returns in a week or two from a torn labrum.

As for Wright, he was acquired by the Pistons from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal early in the offseason, and it was expected from nearly the start that he was acquired to be traded ultimately. Most reports suggested that he was likely headed for a contender in a trade, but clearly, the 19-25 Sacramento Kings are anything but that.

We’ll break this deal down from both team’s perspectives and grade it, starting with the Pistons.