Despite not engaging in many trade negotiations yet, it feels as if the Detroit Pistons are going to be open for business very soon. Owners of the worst record in the NBA at 7-22 and with Cade Cunningham set to undergo season-ending surgery, the Pistons are cemented as sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
A lot of the trade talks centered around the Pistons have involved veteran wing Bojan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic was acquired before the regular season from the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee.
A two-year extension was signed shortly after that, making Bogdanovic an even more attractive trade chip. Coupled with his performance thus far this season, it makes sense why so many teams are interested in acquiring him. Alas, he is not the only veteran that Detroit is looking to trade away.
Another player to keep an eye on is center, Nerlens Noel. Noel was acquired during the offseason, along with Alec Burks and draft capital, from the New York Knicks in what was a salary dump for them. The Knicks used that cleared cap space to sign Jalen Brunson in free agency.
The Kentucky product hasn’t played much for Detroit this season, appearing in only six games. At this point, parting ways is something both Noel and the team agree is best for both parties. Despite the limited opportunities, Noel has drawn some interest around the league already. According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks have all expressed interest.
“League sources, who were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely, have told The Athletic that the Pistons are looking to move the veteran big man. Both sides have agreed that a deal is best for both parties, and Detroit has already had talks with rival teams about Noel. Portland, Sacramento, Miami and Dallas have been the teams most engaged when it comes to acquiring the 28-year-old.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nerlens Noel, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers & Sacramento Kings Updates
Noel is in the second season of a three-year, $27.72 million deal he signed with the Knicks in free agency in 2021. He was coming off of a very strong season in New York, showcasing elite defensive ability that all of the interested teams would certainly hope he brought to their rosters as well.
The third season in Noel’s deal is a team option, so he can be viewed as an expiring contract, further increasing his value in a trade. Sacramento, Dallas and Portland are all in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating, while Miami is 7th. Noel would certainly help the first three teams improve in that area and the Heat sustain their success thus far.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nerlens Noel, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers & Sacramento Kings Updates
With three young big men on the roster in Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III and Jalen Duren, there is no space for Noel. That should make him relatively easy to obtain, as the price won’t be exorbitant as the Pistons will take whatever they can get for their emergency center.
