OT: Your thoughts on the Knicks/Pistons trade

Submitted by LSA Aught One on June 29th, 2022 at 3:25 PM

There was an evening trade between the NY Knickerbockers and the Detroit Pistons:

 

June 28 updates

9:43 p.m. ET: The New York Knicks have agreed to trade center Nerlens Noel, guard Alec Burks, a 2023 second-round pick, a 2024 second-round pick and $6 million to the Detroit Pistons, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The trade allows the Knicks to unload $19 million in salary, clearing cap space to try to sign free-agent guard Jalen Brunson.

 

Noel seems intriguing to me.  I know nothing about Burks.  I do like the two additional picks.  The talking heads give this a B- because they think Detroit could have gotten more from NY.  The theory is that NY was desperate to shed the $19 cap space.

Fishbulb

June 29th, 2022 at 3:30 PM ^

Salary dump by the Knicks to get Brunson. Pistons get some 2nds and two functional pieces with no long-term financial commitment. Win-win. 

Jason80

June 30th, 2022 at 12:06 PM ^

2nd round picks that can be spent on guys like Garza and Lee that never get any run by Casey. But at least we get to watch Cojo dribble for 10 seconds for another season.

Not a big fan of this trade. But Troy is a pro and I'm just a fan struggling to remember what being in the 2nd round of the playoffs feels like.

Jibbroni

June 29th, 2022 at 4:27 PM ^

“Eh, from what I've been reading, both Noel and Burks provide potential value this season and are on SUPER team friendly contracts.  There's no risk to the Pistons to adding them for this year and they have a clean cap to work with next year.  Hard for NYK to give another first our way.” - kjhager444

 

edit:  I love double posts

spiff

June 29th, 2022 at 3:35 PM ^

Burks will be good off the bench, good 3% on decent volume. Noel is useful to have off the bench as well. Good veterans to have around as well. Still leaves room to add another player or two I think as well.

I think both have a team option for the following season, so the Pistons keep their flexibility going forward and may be able to trade these guys if they want to someone else needing an expiring contract.

And considering it is a 'trade' where I can't see that the Pistons actually gave up anything then I think it is hard to find any fault here. 

ThisWolverineThinks

June 29th, 2022 at 5:47 PM ^

Totally agree. He is the second best player on that Hornets team and they can't sniff the conference finals. I just dont ever want to spend money like that on a guy who can't be a top 3 player on a championship team. Now we can take on money for future assets hopefully until Cade and the rest are ready to compete for real.

BlueWolverine02

June 29th, 2022 at 3:37 PM ^

Pistons wanted veteran roll players.  They just got two on expiring contracts, plus some 2nds thrown in.  Great move for what they were trying to accomplish. 

lilpenny1316

June 29th, 2022 at 3:48 PM ^

Solid trade for the Pistons. They were terrible from 3-point range and Burks helps there. Whatever they get from Noel will probably be a bonus. They may be another year away from serious playoff contention, so if they are sellers at the deadline, they may be able to flip those guys for a draft pick. There's no downside for them unless Ayton or Bridges were serious contenders to sign with us.

This is a needed trade for the Knicks to accomplish their goal to get Brunson. I'm sure he's a nice dude, but I can't believe he's worth all this shedding of cap (and players) that the Knicks are doing.

Lou MacAdoo

June 29th, 2022 at 3:51 PM ^

Someone with no insider info was hypothesizing on the radio that this could be a move that helps lead to a possible sign and trade with the Suns for Ayton. It would give the Pistons some assets to move and the suns some depth with expiring contracts to help them make a run while CP3 is still playing at a high level. Crazy? 

pkatz

June 29th, 2022 at 3:52 PM ^

The theory is that NY was desperate to shed the $19 cap space.

$19 in cap space… does that even get you a Katz’s Deli sandwich these days?
 

mGrowOld

June 29th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^

My childhood team was the Pistons. I grew up with Dave Bing, Bob Lanier and went to games 4 & 5 of the 1988 NBA finals at the Silverdome so while I support the Cavs now (have lived in northern Ohio since 1989) I still have a soft spot for the once and future Bad Boys.

So I have a question for the board.  Where do you see the Pistons this coming year given all the moves they've made so far?  Personally I think the Cavs will take another step forward and will challenge Milwaukee for the central, Chicago will take a step back and indiana will really suck.  But what about Detroit? 

The Cavs went from 22 wins in 2020-21 to 44 wins in 2021-22.  Can the Pistons do the same thing this year?

Kevin14

June 29th, 2022 at 6:00 PM ^

I think that's probably a littleee optimistic.  I think 35-40 wins and loosely compete for a play in spot are realistic goals.  The east is going to be pretty good again next year. 

Reasons for optimism include big jumps from Cade and Bey.  Smaller jumps from Stewart, Hayes, and maybe Livers?  If Ivey can be an average starter-caliber player in year one that would be great. 

Losing Grant was a sneaky big loss.  I get the move, but he was still an above average starter who we replaced with young players. 

2023 should be the year they're in the playoffs competing.  Another year of player development and more cap space.   

BradyIsNumberT…

June 29th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^

I bought a half season pair of tickets for the Lions and will buy a package for both the Pistons and Red WIngs next season 2022-23.  I am excited about all the fall-winter Detroit teams next year.  Especially the Lions, but after this draft and seeing the potential starting backcourt for the Pistons I am excited for them too.

JimmyHardballs

June 29th, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^

I love it, they get a rotation player and a solid backup Center for Duren to learn from. 

They also get to save their cap space (by declining the team options on these two next year) in order to sign a max player in the better 2023 free agent class, and have money left over. 

This is much better than spending money just to spend it, like they did with Ben Gordon and Charlie V.

AlbanyBlue

June 29th, 2022 at 5:37 PM ^

Sounds like the Pistons got exactly what they wanted -- a couple veterans that should / will be around for 2022-23 only.

It's a clear signal that the Pistons are going to wait one more year to go all-in trying to compete at a high level. For me, it's fine, because Ayton or Bridges on a max (or close) deal didn't seem like the way to go. 

Questions I have: Will next year be better for free agents at Detroit's position(s) of need? Will we end up being just good enough to get ourselves out of the lottery -- and does that even matter if what we are going after is a big-name free agent?

Blue Vet

June 29th, 2022 at 5:41 PM ^

Whew! I saw the headline, and thought the teams had been traded.

Imagine the ramifications. Michiganders would have to start rooting for the Knicks.

And if Spike Lee had to root for the Pistons and fell in the front row, would anyone notice? (That's a joke about his basketball grandstanding, not his filmmaking, which is terrific.)

BursleysFinest

June 29th, 2022 at 6:18 PM ^

Takes us out of the running to get Deandre Ayton, but Duren is a baby version of him anyway, so I guess that makes sense.  Really feel like we're 1 piece and 1 year away from something special. 

bronxblue

June 29th, 2022 at 6:38 PM ^

It's a neutral trade that helps both teams.  Burks and Noel are expiring contracts (I think) and the two second round picks will likely be flipped.  Feels like Knicks may be overpaying a bit for Brunson but so be it.