Detroit Pistons Receive: C Damian Jones, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Saddiq Bey
Of course, these teams feel different levels of disappointment with good reason. They’re in very different positions.
The Pistons are young. Frankly, they have plenty of time to develop into a winning team. They may have been hoping for more in 2022-23, but adding another lottery pick to their roster won’t kill them, either.
By contrast, the Lakers won’t have that opportunity. They owe their upcoming first-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Moreover, this team is old: for them, the time is now.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
All of this makes their 5-11 record jarring. Meanwhile, nobody is shocked to see the Pistons at 4-15, even if they did want more.
Should they really cut ties with a young player like Bey?