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The Pistons started their NBA trade deadline off productively by addressing the team’s thinnest position at point guard and they might not be done dealing yet. Woj reports that they’re also in talks to improve their wing depth.
Pistons and Pelicans seriously discussing a Brice Johnson-Dante Cunningham deal, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Cunningham has spent the past four years in New Orleans, including starting 132 games over that span. He’s a savvy presence on the wing who has shot 56 percent inside the arc over the past three years thanks to some nifty cuts and has developed a three point shot over that same stretch. After shooting just 38 three point shots in his first six seasons, he’s shot 463 over the past three.
He signed a one year, $2.3 million deal to stay in New Orleans over the summer and has veto rights on any trade.
Brice Johnson hasn’t gotten on the floor since being included in the Blake Griffin deal. He was a first round pick in 2016, but will be a restricted free agent this summer since his team option was declined by the Clippers.
While there’s still some tantalizing potential in a guy like Brice Johnson, as Rod Beard puts it:
If #Pistons end up trading Tobias Harris, expiring Avery Bradley deal, Boban and two picks and end up with Blake Griffin, Dante Cunningham and Jameer Nelson...
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) February 8, 2018
That's a haul.
After all, Cunningham has been a fringe starter on a fringe playoff team in New Orleans. While the Pistons current wing rotation has been playing well, there’s not a whole lot of depth there. Landing a guy like Cunningham for a non-contributor would be a no-brainer.
UPDATE: Pistons trade instead for James Ennis. More coming shortly.