According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Detroit Pistons are a team to watch in trade conversations with the Sacramento Kings around Marvin Bagley III. It’s been clear for a while that Bagley and Sacramento are heading for a split, and according to Stein, the Pistons have been monitoring the situation for some time now, even going as far back as last season.
The Sacramento Kings, from the top to the organization to the fanbase, are anxious to trade Bagley, especially after his recent dramatic display where he refused to enter a game when called upon by Head Coach Luke Walton. In spite of this, the Kings will not simply give Bagley away and will instead make every attempt to recoup some value for the former No. 2 overall pick.
Whether they target a player who can provide any type of a positive impact or aim to land one or more draft picks, what’s clear is that they won’t just give Bagley away. The Detroit Pistons aren’t an asset-rich team, and what few true assets they do boast are likely off the table for Bagley, but there are a few players Detroit may be willing to part with that could help the Kings this season.
Three trades to send Marvin Bagley III from the Kings to the Detroit Pistons.
The key here is making moderate improvement. Sacramento has struggled for many reasons this season, and there’s no single quick solution. One thing that has become clear, though, is that the team needs both depth and top-end talent. Hopefully, Monte McNair can find a way to add one or both of those in a Bagley deal though it certainly won’t be easy.
Trade #1: The Enforcer
Using the term “enforcer” extremely lightly here, Kelly Olynyk is much more of a goon with questionable on-the-court character but in spite of that. He could be an enticing floor-raiser for Sacramento.
Olynyk is a solid stretch four who could provide some much-needed shooting to the Kings. He’s had a rocky start to the season, but who hasn’t this league year. A change of scenery and some patience, and he’ll almost certainly get out of his funk.
The Kings are struggling this season, and people are already coming out in favor of embracing the tank; however, the Western Conference is full of question marks, and this year provides an incredible opportunity for the Kings to make the playoffs.
Sacramento lacks postseason experience outside of Harrison Barnes and Tristan Thompson. Players who know what it takes to get to and succeed in the playoffs are a necessity in this league, and Kelly Olynyk (48 playoff appearances) could help rectify that.
That only real knock against Olynyk in this trade is his contract (3yrs $37M). Olynyk would eat into the Kings’ available cap space this offseason and prevent them from hopefully signing an impact free agent. It’s up to Monte McNair to decide if Olynyk is worth that.
Trade #2: Some Much Needed Depth
The Kings desperately need forward help, and the Detroit Pistons would be able to provide it in the form of Josh Jackson and Trey Lyles. Much like Marvin Bagley III, Josh Jackson’s career has been anything but what was predicted.
The former 4th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has failed to impress in his career so far, but at only 24 years old, there’s still possibly some untapped potential in him. If nothing else, he’s a 6’8 athletic defender. That may make him sound like just another Mo Harkless, and admittedly there are similarities, but Jackson’s a flat-out better defender with significantly more potential and a more well-rounded game.
Trey Lyles, meanwhile, provides some needed shooting similar to the way Olynyk does but at a cheaper price. The seven-year journeyman is suffering from a down-year shooting, also like Olynyk, but he’s coming off of a season with the Spurs that saw him shoot 47.8% from the field and 35.0% from deep.
Lyles has been a surprising bright spot for the Pistons this season, averaging 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 15.6 minutes. He’s no star player, but he could certainly provide a boost to Sacramento’s bench.
Neither is the perfect player, but together they could provide some needed depth on cheap contracts for the Kings.
Trade #3: The Big Fish
Finally comes the only deal that truly moves the Kings’ playoff needle more than a blip. While Jerami Grant is certainly benefiting from some bad team stat-padding (much like Evan Turner with the Sixers in the 2013-14 season), the bones of a useful contributor are obviously there.
Grant is a talented defender, scorer, and shooter, despite also struggling from the field this season. He’s shooting a mere 32.7% from deep so far this season, but Jerami Grant has shot 37.5% from three on 4.2 attempts per game over the past three seasons. He’s also an impressive athlete who would look like a dream on the receiving end of a De’Aaron Fox-led fast break.
The biggest impact Jerami Grant would have on the Sacramento Kings, though, would certainly be as a defender. Sure, Grant may not be on the Ben Simmons, Kawhi Leonard side of the spectrum, but he’s capable of playing tight defense both on and off-ball. Between him and Harrison Barnes, the Kings’ defense at the forward spots would be solidified for years to come.
Grant likely doesn’t have an all-star appearance in his future, but for Bagley, a lottery-protected pick, and a pick swap, Monty McNair could make the first big trade in his time as General Manager of the Sacramento Kings.