An NBA team has a lot of needs. They need good players, but they also need assets. It’s the responsibility of the league’s general managers to look at their team, assess the team’s needs, and satisfy them.
Sometimes, a team needs a player. Other times, they’ll find that they have a surplus of a player type. Take the Brooklyn Nets. They certainly don’t need a 3-and-D wing.
As a matter of fact, they’ve got 3-and-D wings to spare. The Nets could stand to trade one of those players for some assets.
On the other hand, the Detroit Pistons could use a 3-and-D wing. This team has plenty of assets, and they’ve appeared ready to make a leap in the standings in 2023-24.
Could they acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from the Nets?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: C James Wiseman, 2027 Second-Round Pick (DET), 2028 Second-Round Pick (DET)
Detroit Pistons Receive: F Dorian Finney-Smith
On the other hand, teams don’t always go about fulfilling their needs in the way that we’d expect. Sometimes, a trade doesn’t make sense – on paper.
For all we know, the team’s general manager has an idea that we’re simply not privy to. For example, we don’t know why the Pistons acquired Wiseman in the first place.
Jalen Duren was looking good as a rookie. What was the point in bringing in internal competition? From the outside looking in, it didn’t make a lot of sense.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons Updates
On the other hand, it’s possible that Pistons GM Troy Weaver had a move like this one in mind. Of course, it’s also possible that he simply made a mistake. Either way, Duren is breaking out in 2023-24. Wiseman does not look like this team’s big man of the future.
Do the Nets have a place for him?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
Not necessarily. The Nets already have their starting big man. Nicolas Claxton is one of the most versatile defensive players in the NBA. In all likelihood, the Nets aren’t looking to replace him.
At least, not yet. In all fairness, Claxton is due for a contract extension this summer. Whether the Nets will extend him is a point of contention. If this team makes a playoff run in 2023-24, they’ll probably opt to keep the band together.
On the other hand, if they fall short of that mark, they may not want to commit a major salary to a player when they’re not in a position to contend. Either way, Wiseman could be his primary backup for the time being.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons Updates
Landing a pair of second-rounders doesn’t hurt either – especially when the Nets can so readily spare Finney-Smith. Should the Pistons give those picks up for him?
Why The Detroit Pistons Do The Deal
The Pistons have to be happy with the results of this season so far. Cade Cunningham is justifying his selection with the first overall pick in the 2021 draft. Ausar Thompson looks like a future star, and Jalen Duren looks even better. This is going well.
Now, it’s time for Detroit to start switching gears. This team doesn’t have to see itself as a rebuilding organization anymore. They can be finished with crossing their fingers for lottery luck. The Pistons can start adding veterans who will help them make a playoff push.
Finney-Smith is exactly the type of player that they’re missing. By joining Cunningham, Thompson, Duren, and Killian Hayes in the starting lineup, Finney-Smith would be plugging holes.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons Updates
His low-usage brand of basketball would help this group of playmakers thrive. In simple terms, the Pistons need him.
