Could the Pistons trade Delon Wright?
Looking at potential Delon Wright trade destinations
Since Delon Wright’s injury to his groin on February 19th, the Pistons have resorted to newly acquired Dennis Smith Jr. and second-round rookie Saben Lee for their point guard duties. Both Smith and Lee have been delightful surprises for Pistons fans over the past 3 games.
If the steady point guard play from Smith and Lee continues, you start to wonder how the rotation will look when Wright is healthy. Pairing that with Killian Hayes, the Pistons’ 7th overall pick, set to return in late March, a log jam begins to form at the 1-spot.
As many Pistons fans have noted, a quick fix to this issue would be to deal the veteran lead guard to a playoff team at the deadline.
Wright, having a career year, could be an immediate help to any playoff team in need of guard depth. Let’s take a look at some potential trade destinations.
Philadelphia 76ers
With the best record in the Eastern Conference led by MVP candidate Joel Embiid, the Sixers have solidified themselves as an Eastern Conference contender. Yet, as we have seen, a Ben Simmons-led offense can have serious limitations that could prevent the Sixers from reaching the Eastern Finals. Delon Wright fills a much-needed gap for them without taking on much salary (i.e., Kyle Lowry).
For the Pistons, Mike Scott serves as a serviceable veteran forward with an expiring deal who can provide emergency depth as Blake Griffin continues his hiatus. Former 21st overall pick, Terrance Ferguson, would have the chance to reunite with Troy Weaver and become another project for the first-year GM.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics, currently sitting at 15-17, are off to an extremely rough start to this season. Having two of the most prolific young wings in the NBA, Danny Ainge and Co. are currently in a window that is starting to close. As Tatum and Brown continue to age, the pressure is on the Celtics front office to build a championship-contending supporting cast to mitigate the risk of one of them requesting a trade or leaving in free agency.
Kemba Walker’s inconsistencies and Marcus Smart’s absence have played a large role in the Celtics’ struggles this season. This has forced Celtics rookie Payton Pritchard to carry a larger load than most probably anticipated. Although Pritchard has performed quite well in his minutes, Wright adds much-needed depth and could be utilized as a potential closing 2 in small-ball lineups.
Romeo Langford and an OKC second-round pick act as more assets for a rebuilding Pistons team. Langford1, the 14th overall pick in the 2019 Draft, has yet to find a role for the Celtics and would benefit from a fresh start where he is not behind two All-Star wings.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers’ playoff struggles are well documented. In what may be their final shot to make a run at a title, the Clippers are in desperate need of a steady lead guard who can be a plus for them on both ends of the floor.
Over the past couple of seasons, Lou Williams has struggled tremendously on the defensive end. Williams has ranked in the bottom 25 of Defensive Box Plus Minus2 over the last two seasons, and his flaws are even more present in the playoffs. Delon Wright gives the Clippers a guard who can play alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George offensively while guarding some of the best opposing guards defensively.
On an expiring deal, Lou Williams gives the Pistons an offensive boost and a veteran presence for their very young team. Williams could also benefit from some inflated stats at this stage in his career for one last potential ride with a contender.
Langford will likely miss the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season due to a right wrist fracture.
A box score estimate of the defensive points per 100 possessions a player contributed above a league-average player, translated to an average team, per basketball-reference.com.