NBA Trade Grades: The Pistons and Kings swap guards
By Duncan Smith
NBA trade grades for the Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have accumulated a handful of second-round picks since the season began, picking up the Charlotte Hornets’ 2021 second-rounder in the Derrick Rose trade for Dennis Smith Jr., and acquiring two in this deal. They also sent out a 2027 second-rounder in the trade of Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk to the OKC Thunder for Hamidou Diallo.
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Along with Cory Joseph, the Pistons acquired the Lakers’ 2021 second-rounder (which is getting better by the game with Anthony Davis and LeBron James out) and the Kings’ own 2024 second-rounder.
The Pistons now have three second-round picks in next year’s draft, including the Toronto Raptors’ pick which is also rapidly getting better by the game. Their second-round picks thereafter are sparse with none in 2022, the worst of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors’ pick in 2023, and now the Kings’ pick in 2024. They have their own 2027 pick, but none in 2025 or 2026.
This deal is all about two things for the Pistons; these picks, and creating a more favorable cap situation in the 2021 offseason. While Wright’s salary next season is a fully-guaranteed $8.5 million, Joseph’s $12.6 million salary is only guaranteed for $2.4 million.
Joseph will likely play for the Pistons, but that doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Essentially they traded Delon Wright for $6 million worth of cap relief and two second-round picks. It’s yet another win for general manager Troy Weaver.