Phoenix Suns Receive: C Kelly Olynyk
Detroit Pistons Receive: F/C Jalen Smith, F Dario Saric
The Detroit Pistons were big winners of the offseason, landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and selecting Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham. People are so high on Cunningham that the signing of Kelly Olynyk is sometimes overlooked for how much of a head-scratcher it was.
Olynyk was excellent for the Houston Rockets after being acquired from the Miami Heat at the trade deadline, but they were pretty empty stats.
The Houston Rockets were winning games and the opportunities he received there aren’t going to be available on a rebuilding team such as the Pistons.
Olynyk cashed in, and now the Pistons could look to move on from their least desirable contract as soon as possible by trading him to the big-man needy Phoenix Suns.
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A deal cannot be completed until November 4th when the recently signed player restriction is lifted from Olynyk.
Receiving Jalen Smith, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, would be an excellent get for the Detroit Pistons, who have an impressive young core. Dario Saric is injured, but has proven to be a useful frontcourt player when healthy and is included to help match salary.
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Smith would give the Pistons another frontcourt player to develop along with Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart.
Troy Weaver would have overhauled the entire roster since taking over, as Sekou Doumbouya, who was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, was the last player remaining that he did not have a hand in acquiring.
The deal makes sense for the Detroit Pistons, as Olynyk will prove to be a poor signing rather quickly. For the Suns, does it make as much sense? Let’s take a look.
