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Detroit Pistons make sidestep trade with Wizards, add Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala

marlowe alter and omari sankofa ii, detroit free press
·4 min read
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The Detroit Pistons have finally made an in-season trade Sunday morning, just before the Lions steal all the headlines with an NFL home playoff game for the time in 32 years.

The Pistons are acquiring Washington Wizards stretch big men Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala in exchange for center Marvin Bagley III, forward Isaiah Livers and 2025 and 2026 second-round picks, the Free Press confirmed from multiple sources.

The Pistons shed $4 million in salary this season with the deal. The 2026 second-rounder is from Minnesota, New York, New Orleans or Portland; the Pistons' 2026 second is already owed to Orlando or Phoenix.

The Pistons were in the middle of practice at their facility in Detroit when the deal became public around 10:30 a.m.

In another interesting twist, the Pistons and Wizards play each other Monday afternoon in Washington, D.C. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

WHAT IT MEANS: Detroit Pistons trade with Wizards 'first step' in charting franchise back on track

Washington Wizards power forward Danilo Gallinari during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, Nov. 27, 2023.
Washington Wizards power forward Danilo Gallinari during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, Nov. 27, 2023.

The Pistons, 3-36 and on pace for the worst record in NBA history, move off Bagley's contract ($12.5 million in 2024-25), while the other three players are on expiring deals: Livers ($1.8 million), Gallinari ($6.8 million) and Muscala ($3.5 million). The Pistons were projected for around $39 million in cap space this summer — depending on where their first-round draft pick fell and the final league salary cap numbers — and will now have at least $50 million if not $60 million, but favorable free agent options are limited.

A high-ranking Pistons source described the trade as a "first step" for the organization. Clearing a bit more cap space ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline was a priority, and the deal also balances an awkward big man rotation with Bagley, Jalen Duren and James Wiseman, as well as adding two more veterans to a young locker room.

Bagley, 24, has played sparingly the past month as coach Monty Williams gave Wiseman the backup big man spot. Bagley is averaging 10.2 points on 59.1% shooting over 26 games this season, including 10 starts. The Pistons dealt two seconds to acquire Bagley, the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, at the deadline two years ago, then gave him a healthy three-year, $37.5 million contract that offseason.

TRENDING TODAY: 4 trade deadline deals that would aid Detroit Pistons tragic season

Detroit Pistons forward Marvin Bagley III (35) walks off the court after the 119-111 loss to the Utah Jazz at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.
Detroit Pistons forward Marvin Bagley III (35) walks off the court after the 119-111 loss to the Utah Jazz at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.

Neither Gallinari, 35, or Muscala, 32, have helped the Wizards much — the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference at 7-31. But they both have a history of making 3-point baskets, something Bagley does not do. But neither Gallinari nor Muscala have shot the ball well at all this season.

Gallinari, a power forward, has played in 26 games, averaging a career-low 14.8 minutes per game, scoring seven points and shooting a career-worst 31.3% from 3. He's a career 38.1% shooter from 3 and now in his 14th NBA season. He missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

Washington Wizards' Mike Muscala questions a call during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Dec. 18, 2023.
Washington Wizards' Mike Muscala questions a call during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Dec. 18, 2023.

Muscala has played in 24 games, averaging four ppg in 14.1 mpg and shooting a career-worst 27.5% from 3. He is a career 37.5% 3-point shooter since entering the NBA in 2013.

Livers, 25, was a 2021 second-round pick out of Michigan by the Pistons and had started five straight games before coming off the bench in Friday's loss to Houston. Livers showed shooting promise during his first two seasons and alert team defense, but continued injuries and decline this season (28.6% on 3s) had his future in question. He will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Pistons forward Isaiah Livers shoots the ball after the second quarter ends vs. the Jazz on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
Pistons forward Isaiah Livers shoots the ball after the second quarter ends vs. the Jazz on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Salt Lake City.

Pistons owner Tom Gores spoke Dec. 22 during the midst of an NBA-record 28-game losing streak, saying he expected changes from his fourth-year general manager Troy Weaver before the deadline.

The Pistons still have four veterans on expiring contracts in Bojan Bogdanovic ($2 million guaranteed for next season), Joe Harris, Monte Morris and Alec Burks to facilitate more trades by the deadline.

There are three more weeks to see how much more change comes next.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report the deal.

[ MUST WATCH: The "The Pistons Pulse" podcast with Omari Sankofa II and Bryce Simon reacted live to the trade Sunday morning with Spotrac cap expert Keith Smith. Watch the broadcast replay below. ] 

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons trade with Washington Wizards and add shooting