Front-Office Insider: Aftermath of a voided trade
The Detroit Pistons rescinded their three-team trade with Houston and Philadelphia on Monday, and it will have widespread ramifications both now and in the future. Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks examines all the factors in play.
Why was the trade voided?
Major conditions of a trade are that a player must report and pass a physical. There is a window for both to occur, and teams can either waive the requirements or mandate a player take a physical.
In this case, because of the recent back surgery of Donatas Motiejunas, Detroit had Motiejunas take a thorough physical. It is at the team’s discretion to pass a player based on the recommendation of its doctors.
The Pistons felt that Motiejunas did not meet the requirements needed to pass a physical.
Houston’s situation
The voided trade will affect the Rockets the most.
Houston will lose an asset as well as significant savings.
The Rockets had in their possession a likely late lottery to early first-round pick. The pick returning to Detroit stings considerably because the Rockets might not have a first-round pick in June. Currently, the Rockets’ first-round pick goes to the Nuggets (protected Nos. 1-14). Losing a first-round pick not only keeps them from acquiring a prospect in June but will also hinder trades going forward
The Rockets projected to be under the luxury-tax line Thursday night, but are once again a tax team with the re-additions of the salaries of Marcus Thornton and Motiejunas. The initial trade that saved Houston significant money will now cost the Rockets $4.4 million in luxury taxes. The Rockets will also lose out on the league-wide tax distribution that is projected to be $2.3 million.
The Rockets will also have an important decision in the offseason. Do they offer Motiejunas a qualifying offer valued at $3.2 million? The next few months will certainly answer that question.
The Rockets will also now have 15 guaranteed contracts and will once again be $525,000 near the hard cap.
Detroit’s situation
Even with the Pistons in a free fall, the voided trade hurts Detroit in the short and long term. Motiejunas, 25, was projected to be a part of the Pistons’ future.
There is a silver lining to the trade being voided. The Pistons, losers of five straight, have fallen out of the playoff mix and will retain their first-round pick. Although the pick sent to Houston was protected Nos. 1-8, the Pistons now will keep the pick back, currently at No. 13.
The Pistons also have an open roster spot.
Philadelphia’s situation
Philadelphia loses out as well.
The 76ers needed to create a roster spot to acquire Joel Anthony from Detroit and eventually waived JaKarr Sampson. Sampson, a favorite among the 76ers' management and coaching staffs, was waived when an open roster spot was needed.
Sampson eventually cleared waivers and signed a new contract with the Denver Nuggets.
The Vertical talked to numerous agents and teams, and they all felt that this issue is something the league and the Players Association will need to look into going forward. There is certainly a gray area on how a player who is waived to create a roster spot is treated if a trade is voided.
The players
Motiejunas will be impacted the most by the voided trade.
Motiejunas, who will be a restricted free agent in the summer, has lost tremendous leverage on the free-agent market. Teams will examine him closely over the next two months to see what type of effect his back will have on his play. Motiejunas has not played in an NBA game since Dec. 31.
It will be important for Motiejunas’ agent, B.J. Armstrong, to put a strategy in place to boost his client’s value.
Although Anthony and Thornton are veterans and have been traded numerous times in their careers, there is a sting when you have to go back to the team that traded you.
The rest of the league
The voided trade made each of the non-tax paying teams an extra $200,000.
With the Rockets in the tax now, league-wide distribution will now be $2.5 million for the 23 teams. If the trade had been approved, 24 teams were set to get a projected distribution of $2.3 million.
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