The Pistons acquired Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks and draft picks from the Knicks. what does that mean? It didn't even take Troy Weaver and his front office more than a week to make another trade. Five days after a tumultuous and successful draft night, the Pistons general manager pi

Pistons acquired Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks and draft picks from Knicks . what does that mean?

It didn't even take Troy Weaver and his front office more than a week to make another trade.

Five days after a tumultuous and successful draft night, the Pistons general manager picked up the phone again and struck a deal with a familiar foe. Sources tell The Athletic that the Knicks are trading veteran center Nerlens Noel, veteran forward Alec Burks, two second-round picks and some cash to the Pistons for nothing. return.

As of Tuesday, just two days before free agency is scheduled to begin, the Pistons, who have roughly $40 million in cap space, may be using their cap space to acquire dead-end contracts to acquire some assets to follow their young roster. The core moves forward together. Detroit would get two draft picks, a rotation-level forward and an experienced, defensive-minded big man in exchange for $19 million in cap space. The Pistons still have about $20 million in cap space at their disposal.

This trade shows that Detroit has delayed another offseason and emphasizes the importance of their younger core players in the 2022-23 season. I reported in early 2021 that the Pistons were hoping to truly turn things around with a rebuild in 2023, when the free-agent class would be more attractive and rivals might give up some good players in exchange for better players. This unique deal shows that management has not strayed from that plan.

Burks and Noel have team options for next season. If Detroit decides not to keep anyone, that would create $19 million in cap space in the summer of 2023. In addition, the contracts of Cory Joseph and Hamidou Diallo will expire (the combined salary is just over $10 million). If Detroit cuts him before June 28 next year, Kelly Olynyk will only receive a partially guaranteed salary of $3 million (which would equal approximately $9 million in salary space). Finally, the salary required to waive DeAndre Jordan ($7.9 million) will also expire next year. Add these together, and the Pistons will easily clear $45 million in cap space in the summer of 2023.

In the short term, Detroit is expected to keep Burks and Noel in the lineup, sources said. The former has shot over 40% from three-point range in the past three seasons while taking a large number of shots. The Pistons were one of the worst shooting teams in the league last season and are unlikely to land a shooter as good as Burks in free agency. Burks just underwent foot surgery, but he will be ready before training camp begins. Noel will bring veteran leadership to the Pistons' young frontcourt and be a reliable option in emergencies. With the addition of these players, the Pistons will have 13 players under contract once rookies Jaden Ivey and Jaylen Duren sign, and assuming the trade of restricted free agent Marvin Bagley is completed by the end of the week. . Sources said that the Pistons are bent on bringing Bagley back to the Motor City.

On the surface, this is not an attractive deal. However, it's a deal that works. The Pistons filled out the roster with solid veterans, added draft picks and planted a flag moving forward. If you've ever wondered when Detroit will start to turn things around, now you know the answer.

However, the Pistons do not refuse to enter the playoffs this year. If this happens under the leadership of the young core of Cade Cunningham, Sadiq Bey, Jaden Ivey and others, it means that the situation is much better than expected.If they don't make it, which such a young team shouldn't be expected to do, they'll be adding a lottery pick and maybe one or two proven, high-level players to their talented young group. Impact player, either through free agency or a trade in 2023.

You may not like Detroit's plan, but the team is executing on it. And so far, the plan has been executed perfectly. However, pressure is mounting to achieve this target a year from now.

So far, the light at the end of the tunnel remains bright.