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Detroit Pistons NBA trade deadline 2024 rumor tracker: Latest updates

Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press
·12 min read

Welcome to the Detroit Pistons' NBA trade deadline 2024 rumor tracker.

The Pistons were big players in the rumor mill leading into Thursday's deadline because they had a plethora of expiring contracts to move, most notably Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks, and were one of the few obvious sellers. And they delivered with four trades over two days.

The Pistons under fourth-year general manager Troy Weaver have been active at the deadline in the past, making a deal each of the past three deadline days and six in-season trades overall.

Weaver faced some pressure from ownership — Tom Gores in December promised change would be coming, and said he'd be disappointed if moves were not made — to recoup value for the NBA-worst Pistons (7-43), as he tries to steer the club back on track this summer after it sunk to record-breaking depths this season (28 straight losses).

ANALYSIS: Pistons upgrade wing rotation, maintain flexibility in busy trade deadline

Here are the latest updates and Pistons trades from Wednesday and Thursday leading into the 3 p.m. deadline.

Detroit Pistons trade rumors latest updates

Pistons waive Killian Hayes, Joe Harris and Danuel House

Troy Weaver's first draft pick as the Pistons GM is officially no longer on the team. After a flurry of trades put the Pistons over the NBA roster limit, the team announced they would be waiving Killian Hayes, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 draft, along with Joe Harris and Danuel House. Hayes' time in Detroit was defined by inefficiency and overall struggles on the offensive end. While Hayes is averaging career-highs in shooting accuracy this season (41.3% overall, 29.7% from 3), he's again among the NBA's least-efficient players with a 45.2 effective field goal percentage (league average is 54.8).

Harris played sparingly this season after coming to Detroit via trade in the offseason, while House never officially suited up for the Pistons after was acquired in the morning from the 76ers in a deal that helped Philadelphia clear space below the luxury tax heading into the buyout market.

REACTION: 'Not sure Detroit should be allowed to make trades': Reactions to Pistons' latest deal

Pistons send Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanovic to Knicks in 4th deadline trade

The Pistons' busy start to the deadline day continued with their fourth, and by far biggest, trade in the last 24 hours. The Pistons are sending Alec Burks and Bojan Bodganovic, two key members of the rotation, to the New York Knicks in exchange for Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two future second-round picks.

Bogdanovic has been a consistent starter when healthy during his two seasons in Detroit and was one of the best shooters on the team. In 28 games this season, Bogdanovic averaged 20.2 points per game and shot 41.5% from 3-point range, after he was the team's leading scorer in 2022. Burks is returning to the team he played for before joining Detroit after being a key rotation piece for the last year as a shooter. Burks averaged 12.6 points in 21 minutes per game this season while shooting 40.1% from three.

Grimes averaged 7.3 points, 2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and shot 36.3% on 3-pointers while playing solid defense as a rotation member playing 20 minutes a game for the Knicks. Flynn was acquired in the OG Anunoby deal with the Raptors, and will be joining his third team this season as a reserve point guard. Fournier has only played in three games this season as the odd man out in the Knicks rotation, but has a history of being a knockdown 3-point shooter in the past. Arcidiacono has also been a fringe rotation piece this season, not scoring a point in 20 games played this season.

Pistons make third trade, acquire Danuel House, 2nd round pick from 76ers

The Pistons continued their deadline wheeling and dealing Thursday morning with another trade on the margins, picking up wing Danuel House, a 2024 second-round pick and cash from the 76ers, first reported by ESPN and confirmed by the Free Press. The Pistons sent back a heavily-protected 2028 second-round pick. House appeared in 34 games for the 76ers, averaging 4.2 points per game in a rotational role, and the Pistons recouped a second-round pick in this year's draft after trading one to the Jazz yesterday. The Pistons now have 17 players on the roster, which means more moves are on the way. Stay tuned here.

Knicks show interest in both Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic

Yahoo's senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer said two teams at the top of the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, have been trying to trade for both of Detroit's sharpshooting veteran wings of Burks and Bogdanovic. Fischer said the 76ers "found no progress" in trade talks with Detroit, as ESPN reported last night, but the Knicks are still pushing for a deal. Fischer wrote, "at this point, all signs point to the Knicks still being involved with the Pistons."

SNY's NBA reporter Ian Begley also reported on Thursday morning that the Knicks "have been engaged with Detroit on a potential Burks deal". He reported that the high-ranking members of the Pistons front office were split on the idea of trading Burks earlier in the week, with some in favor of keeping Burks to try win some games to close the season.

Talks between 76ers, Pistons break down on Wednesday night

  • Date: Thursday, Feb. 8

  • Source: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN

During the late Wednesday/early Thursday edition of "SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt," Wojnarowski said that the Philadelphia 76ers had "a lot of conversation with" the Pistons, but that his sources said talks over players like Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks "broke down" on Wednesday night. The Sixers are in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, but don't know how long their franchise player, reigning MVP Joel Embiid, will be out with a meniscus tear in his left knee. Bogdanovic and Burks are two proven scorers that would fit on many different contenders.

—Kirkland Crawford

Isaiah Stewart 'player of interest to New Orleans'

Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart grabs a rebound against Utah Jazz during the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.
Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart grabs a rebound against Utah Jazz during the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.

The Pelicans, according to Jake Fischer's sources, are in the market for a big man, looking at Stewart and Atlanta Hawks centers Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela. Yet Fischer reports "there has been little traction on anything developing between Atlanta and New Orleans." He reported earlier Stewart was also a target of Dallas. Stewart, 22, has been in and out of the lineup this season due to injury, appearing in 35 games for the Pistons with 34 starts playing mostly power forward (71% of the time according to Cleaning the Glass). He's averaging 11 points and 6.8 rebounds on 47% shooting, making a career-best 37.4% of his 3s (3.7 attempts per game). Stewart is signed for $15 million per year for the next four seasons.

—Marlowe Alter

Pistons make a second trade, ship Monte Morris to Minnesota

  • Date: Wednesday, Feb. 7

  • Source: Multiple outlets

The Pistons sent Monte Morris to the Minnesota Timberwolves in return for Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr. and Minnesota's second-round selection in 2030. This deal confirms reports earlier of the T'wolves looking at Morris, and reunites him with Tim Connelly, current Wolves president of basketball operations, who was the Nuggets' general manager when Morris was drafted by Denver in 2017. Morris, a standout at Flint Beecher who won Michigan's Mr. Basketball in 2013 and dreamed of playing for the Pistons, was the No. 51 pick out of Iowa State. He was limited to six games for the Pistons this season, making his debut Jan. 24 after sitting 43 games due to a quad injury, which he suffered after missing preseason due to lower back tightness.

New York Knicks, other contenders interested in Alec Burks

  • Date: Wednesday, Feb. 7

  • Source: ESPN

The Pistons got the trade deadline activity started as a surprising buyer, picking up Simone Fontecchio from the Utah Jazz, and NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said contenders are interested in other pieces on the Pistons' roster, which could lead to more trades before the 3 p.m. Thursday deadline. On ESPN's show, "NBA Today", Wojnarowski said the Knicks and other contenders are interested in veteran shooter Alec Burks in exchange for draft compensation.

"The Knicks have been an active team," Wojnarowski said live on Wednesday afternoon. "They've wanted to improve, especially their bench scoring, at the deadline. ... But, certainly players like Alec Burks in Detroit — that's been a conversation for the Knicks (and) some other contenders who can get him for some draft assets."

We have a deal: Pistons trade for Utah's Simone Fontecchio

The Pistons make a buy in the first move of deadline week. Fontecchio is a 28-year-old, 6-foot-7 forward from Italy. He is shooting 39.1% from 3-point range on 4.7 attempts per game this season, and will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Pistons are dealing a juicy second-round pick in the trade, currently No. 32 overall via Washington, along with forward Kevin Knox II and 21-year-old Italian wing Gabriele Procida, who is playing in Germany currently. He was drafted No. 36 overall in 2022.

Fontecchio is averaging 8.9 points per game this season across 50 appearances amid 34 starts for the Jazz (26-26, 10th in the Western Conference), his second NBA season. He averaged 6.3 points in 52 games with the Jazz last season, making 33% of his 3s. He signed a two-year, $6.3 million deal in 2022.

The potential fallout from this deal: The Pistons should become more aggressive in looking to trade Bogdanovic.

REACTION: Detroit Pistons fans call trade for Simone Fontecchio a 'great move'

Isaiah Stewart a 'known target' for Dallas Marvericks

Stewart, 22, signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension in July, with a team option on the final year. The deal begins in 2024-25 and runs through 2028.

Multiple contenders again inquiring on Bojan Bogdanovic, likely will stay put

Bogdanovic, for a second straight year, is one of the Pistons' most coveted players by other teams, the Free Press reported over the weekend. He's shooting 41.5% on 3-pointers this season. The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly looking to add first-round pick capital, using future swap rights, that would allow them to acquire a shooter on the wing likeBogdanovic or Indiana's Buddy Hield. The Pistons however aren't all that interested in moving Bogdanovic, despite him turning 35 this April. He has a $19 million contract for next season, with only $2 million guaranteed.

Tobias Harris a Pistons target for months

Pistons guard Cade Cunningham defends 76ers forward Tobias Harris in the first half on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at Little Caesars Arena.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham defends 76ers forward Tobias Harris in the first half on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at Little Caesars Arena.

A reunion with Tobias Harris is something the Pistons have been eyeing. Philadelphia is very unlikely to part with Harris, who carries a $39.3 million cap number, at the deadline, but he will be an unrestricted free agent entering his age 32 season in 2024-25. Harris spent parts of three seasons with the Pistons in 2016-18, before ultimately being sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Blake Griffin trade that set the Pistons back years. The Pistons could have around $60 million in cap space this summer, and as we've previously written, Harris might be the biggest name who could be a match from a free agent list that has dwindled considerably.

MORE: Cross another name off the Pistons' NBA free agency 2024 wish list

Monte Morris drawing interest from Timberwolves

Morris, 28, played in Denver when Tim Connelly, current Timberwolves president of basketball operations, was the Nuggets' GM. The Timberwolves "have had discussions on several fronts with the Pistons." They tried to grab Morris from Washington last summer but were beat with the Pistons' offer. Update: Morris has indeed been traded to the Wolves.

What's the market on Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala

The two bigs more likely to be dealt appear to be the two acquired three weeks ago from Washington in the deal that created $12.5 million more in cap space for the coming summer. Both players offer shooting gravity, but little defensive versatility. Muscala, 32, is a pure spacing big with a modicum of rim protection, while Gallinari still has some scoring chops to him despite being 35 and missing last season with a torn ACL. Both are on smaller expiring deals.

Pistons are not eager to part with Alec Burks

Date: Sunday, Feb. 4

Source: Detroit Free Press

Burks, considered a good vet in the locker room, is on a $10.5 million expiring deal and turns 33 in July. Burks is a proven scorer off the bench, and broke out of his early winter shooting slump and is now making 39.2% of his 3s on the season.

Killian Hayes days in Detroit are numbered

Our Omari Sankofa II reported Hayes' side is looking to move on and the Pistons are amenable. He could have been on the move last summer, but coach Monty Williams was a fan of Hayes' size, passing efficiency and defense. The question now that Hayes is out of the rotation after starting 30 of 41 appearances: Is there a fit anywhere? Memphis perhaps is in need of healthy players. Hayes can become a restricted free agent after the season, when he'll turn 23.

[ MUST WATCH: Previewing the trade deadline. Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons NBA trade deadline rumor tracker 2024