3 Ways The Pistons Could Trade For Klay Thompson
By Dan Jenkins
@DanTJenkins
From the day Kevin Durant announced he was going to sign with the Golden State Warriors, many people wondered how he would fit into a system that already had two ball-dominant superstars on the roster.
Then rumors started to swirl that the Warriors would try to trade one of those pieces, most likely leaving Klay Thompson as the odd man out. Coach Steve Kerr has repeatedly shot down all of these rumors, but there's no doubt that trading Thompson -- either now or in the future -- could benefit Golden State in the long run.
Is there any way the Detroit Pistons could get in on that action? Maybe.
The Pistons have a lot of young, tradable commodities to get a deal like this done. Even though Stan Van Gundy has built a solid core of players, he seems to be missing a go-to scorer down the stretch in games.
Thompson could fill that role immediately.
No trade is imminent, but here's a look a some deals that could send Thompson to the Motor City (and that work in ESPN's trade machine).
Trade No. 1: Golden State receives Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Stanley Johnson, Aron Baynes and a protected 1st round pick. Detroit receives Klay Thompson.
Of all the trades in the Thompson-to-Detroit scenario, this one makes the most sense.
In getting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Stanley Johnson, the Warriors would get two good wing defenders and two key pieces to a rotation that has been shallow at best this season. Signing Durant ate up more than $26 million in payroll, leaving the team's bench very underwhelming.
Losing Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli has shown to be quite costly for Golden State early this season. Aron Baynes would bring a presence to the paint that Kerr and Co. desperately need.
Trade No. 2: Golden State receives Marcus Morris, Aron Baynes, Reggie Bullock and two unprotected first round picks. Detroit receives Klay Thompson.
If the Warriors are trying to cut costs, Marcus Morris has one of the most valuable and team-friendly contracts in the league. The 27-year-old combo forward is finally starting to figure out his game and is owed only $15 million over the next three years.
Morris and Baynes would have great value to the Warriors, but Bullock would just be a throw-in to make the money match up in this trade.
Golden State would undoubtedly ask for one, if not two, future first round picks to go along with the players in this trade to sweeten the deal. In fact, Detroit would have to offer those picks in any deal to stay competitive in the trade market.
Trade No. 3: Golden State receives Tobias Harris and two unprotected first round picks. Detroit receives Klay Thompson.
This trade is the most unlikely of the three. The Warriors already have their starting forwards in place in Durant and Draymond Green, which would send Tobias Harris to their bench.
But Andre Iguodala's age and work load are finally starting to catch up to him, and Harris could be a more than serviceable upgrade as Golden State's "super sub."
Once again, it would take at least one first round pick to lure Thompson away from the Warriors in any trade.
If you were the Pistons would you do any of these trades? Let us know by voting in the poll below!
