Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks are the newest Detroit Pistons
Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks have been traded to the Detroit Pistons. ESPN Insider Adrian Wojnarowski recently broke the news of the Knicks sending both veterans to the Motor City. It was only a matter of time for the Knicks to make this move, as the Pistons will now use their cap space to absorb the vets while taking on two extra second-round picks.
As Woj alluded to, the Knicks’ #1 target appears to be pending RFA Jalen Brunson. Saying that the writing is on the wall here is simply an understatement. They recently hired Brunson’s father Rick as an assistant coach. Reports are increasingly suggesting them offering a 4 year deal in the neighborhood of $100+ Million. Is he worth that kind of money? You be the judge. For what it’s worth, the former Villanova Wildcat could represent the Knicks’ first solid and respectable lead guard for what feels like decades. This move also provides more clarity following the previous deal between the two teams that sent Kemba Walker to Detroit.
The Detroit Rebuild Is Building
Once again, GM Troy Weaver made a savvy move with the Knicks. No one was asking for the Pistons to become worldbeaters in 2022-23. With this trade, they keep long-term financial flexibility while also adding quality veterans to this young team. Alec Burks is a good piece on the offensive end. So much so that Tom Thibodeau even relied on him as a makeshift point guard for long stretches last season. He was even reportedly on the Boston Celtics’ radar for this offseason. As for Noel, an injury-riddled season cast doubts on the great form he showed in 2020-21. Despite this, teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and even rival Brooklyn Nets were interested in trying to revive the big-man into his 2+ blocks per game form from a year ago.
However, the Pistons showed why it pays to have cap space in the modern-day NBA. Weaver continued to build on his stash of draft picks while also adding guys who could show the young core the ropes of NBA basketball. Burks is a great guy to have in the locker room for both Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Noel, on the other hand, could be instrumental in helping Jalen Duren hit the ground running at the NBA level. For the first time in a long time, there is true hope in the Motor City, as the Pistons have the potential of being a great team for a very long time.
The Knicks Have Their Guy?
All that stands between Jalen Brunson playing at MSG is a potential salary match from the Dallas Mavericks. At the cost of two second-round picks, the Knicks have built their financial flexibility and seem set to invest it on Brunson. Is he a good player? Absolutely, I think so. Is he worth somewhat close to a max rookie extension? Let’s start to pump the brakes here. Kirk Goldsberry has done wonderful work showing why he’s one of the best interior scorers in the league despite being only six-foot-one. But how much of a ceiling raiser could he truly be?
The good news is, at 24, he just set career highs in every single statistical category but blocks. The bad news is that he is not going to have Luka Doncic by his side. Being a secondary ball-handler behind one of the NBA’s best players was a luxury for Brunson’s early career. Now, he’ll have to prove that he can handle a fairly sized workload for arguably the most success-deprived fans in sports. If you ask me, Jarrod Prosser hit the nail on the head about Brunson, regardless of where he plays next season.
Time To Look Ahead
One could anticipate that both of these teams still have busy offseasons ahead of them. Reports have already surfaced that the Knicks don’t see Brunson as someone who will push the needle all the way to a championship. They want to continue making moves and showing that their playoff appearance in 2021 wasn’t a fluke. Two names that have continued to churn the rumor mill are Dejounte Murray and Donovan Mitchell. An argument could be made that the Knicks have enough draft capital to swing a deal for one of them and form a new-look backcourt. Whether it actually happens, though, remains to be seen.
The Pistons, on the other hand, still have to find ways to complete their roster. The first order of business is deciding what to do with Marvin Bagley III, who has a $28 million cap hold. Even after this trade, they still have some cap space to play with. In my eyes, the most logical option is to resign Bagley. Whether it’s a one-year prove-it deal, or both sides finding a number they like on a longer-term deal, keeping the former #2 pick in the fold would probably help more than hurt.
Other than that, possibly finding one more wing to flesh out the rotation is probably all they need. A backcourt of Cunningham, Ivey, Burks, and Killian Hayes looks like a decent starting point. Wings in the form of Saddiq Bey, Bagley, Hami Diallo, and one other would be ideal. Lastly, big men, Duren and Noel would front out a good roster that is on the way towards contention in the near future. Both the Knicks and Pistons should have interesting seasons as the Eastern Conference hierarchy is up in the air.
