Originally Posted by
scottdude8
Worth recapping what the Pistons did last night instead of going the Hayward route, because in my mind it was pretty brilliant... and that's the first time I've said anything about the roster management of a Detroit sports team in far too long.
Instead of taking on 2 years of 30+ million dollars via Hayward to get pick 13 (for what it's worth, the Pistons supposedly coveted Duren, and only would've done a deal if he was available), the Pistons got their man by taking on one year and 9 million dollars of Kemba Walker's contract and shipping out Milwaukee's 2025 first rounder which they got in the Jerami Grant deal (which will likely be a (possibly very) late first rounder). So in the span of just over 24 hours, the Pistons turned Grant into a lottery pick (and not just a lottery pick, but one that got them a specific player they wanted) and 20+ million dollars in extra cap space. It really is the best of both worlds from the Grant deal... if they had shipped Grant to Portland for their #7 pick, but had to take significant salary in return, it's highly possible they would've taken Duren anyways.
You could argue the Pistons now have one of the most exciting young cores in the league in Cunningham, Ivey (still can't believe the Kings gift-wrapped him to us, especially given how much he wanted to be a Piston), Bey, and Duren. 2020 first rounders Killian Hayes (probably now a backup PG) and Isaiah Stewart (who showed promise as a starter but now is probably back in a role that fits him, as an energy big off the bench) are also on the roster. And the Pistons have the cap space to go make a max offer, potentially even if they resign Marvin Bagley.
It'll be fascinating to see if they still go after Ayton, which would give Duren time to develop in a low pressure situation as the primary big off the bench... although that would probably leave Stewart without minutes, especially with Bagley. The other hypothesized route is going after Charlotte's Miles Bridges... if that's what Troy Weaver is thinking, he essentially fleeced Charlotte on draft night by not only getting their pick, but doing so without taking Hayward's salary that may make it difficult for them to match a Bridges offer. Or the Pistons could get active on the trade market with all that cap room.
It's exciting to be a Pistons fan right now after about a decade of doldrums, and the offseason should be quite exciting.