Detroit Pistons have several expiring contracts to facilitate a trade soon

The NBA’s trade market will begin heating up Friday, the date most players who signed new deals in free agency this past offseason become trade eligible.

The Detroit Pistons, mired in a franchise-worst 20-game losing streak, could look to improve their roster and/or asset collection.

The roster, despite an NBA-worst 2-21 record, has several veterans who should hold appeal at varying levels on the trade market, either because of what they bring on the floor or the financial relief their contract can provide.

Pistons fourth-year general manager Troy Weaver has made a trade before each of the previous three deadlines.

Here’s a rundown of the veterans for poaching on the Pistons’ roster. The 2024 NBA trade deadline is Feb. 8.

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F Bojan Bogdanovic, 6 feet 8, 34 years old

The veteran sharpshooter recently made his season debut after a calf strain cost him training camp, preseason and Detroit’s first 19 games. He has been his usual efficient self, averaging 17.5 points through his four games played thus far. His $19 million contract next season is only guaranteed for $2 million; the player and flexibility make Bogdanovic a prime trade target for contending teams.

G/F Alec Burks, 6-6, 32 years old

It has been a bumpy season for Burks, who is shooting 37.8% from 3 but an abysmal 34% on 2s, after shooting 41.4% and 45.9%, respectively, last season. He’s a career 38.4% 3-point shooter with an established reputation around the league as an off-the-bench bucket-getter. He’s making $10.5 million this season in the final year of his contract. 

G/F Joe Harris, 6-6, 32 years old

Harris is a career 43.6% 3-point shooter but this season is making a career-low 31.6% of his 3s, though in a small sample of 6-for-19 in eight games. He missed time with a shoulder injury, and hasn’t been able to make an impact after the Pistons traded for him over the summer. He’s on an expiring contract with a bloated $19.9 million salary, making him a money match in a larger deal or an option for teams looking to dump longer term salary by the deadline. 

PG Monte Morris, 6-2, 28 years old

The Flint native has yet to make his season debut due to lower back soreness and then a right quad strain, but he could return just before the deadline. His lack of availbility affects his trade value, though he has long been one of the league’s most efficient passers, and is a career 39.2% 3-point shooter. Morris is also on an expiring contract, making $9.8 million this season.

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C James Wiseman, 7-0, 22 years old

The fourth-year big man, and former second overall pick, has been unable to secure a consistent role in coach Monty Williams’ rotation after the Pistons dealt Saddiq Bey for Wiseman last February. Marvin Bagley III has been the preferred third big and is under contract next season. Wiseman will hit restricted free agency this summer. If he isn’t in the long-term plans, it makes sense for the organization to seek a suitor for him. He’s making $12.1 million this season and likely has little value outside of salary matching purposes.

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Pistons will be limited by Stepien rule (again)

Think way back to 2020, when Weaver enacted a flurry of trades on and in the week leading up to draft day. His deal to acquire Isaiah Stewart involved sending a protected first-round pick to the Houston Rockets. Three years later, that pick has yet to convey. 

The Stepien rule dictates teams cannot trade their first-round picks in consecutive seasons. As a result, the Pistons can only offer a first round pick starting in 2029, since their future first (now owed to the New York Knicks) is protected through 2027: 1-18 in 2024, 1-13 in 2025, 1-11 in 2026 and 1-9 in 2027; if it never conveys, the Pistons will send their 2027 second-rounder.

The Pistons could free up their draft pick flexibility by renegotiating with the Knicks to alter the protections, which would cost the Pistons an asset(s).

Teams often skirt the Stepien rule by trading picks on draft night. But for this year’s trade deadline, the Pistons will only be able to offer one distant first in 2029 or 2030, because of the NBA’s 7-year rule, which prevents teams from trading picks more than seven years in advance.

The Pistons have already traded their 2024-26 second-round picks (and can’t trade 2027), but will have a valuable 2024 second-rounder coming from Memphis or Washington (Pistons get the more favorable pick). The Pistons also have incoming seconds in 2026, 2027 and 2029.

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa. 

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