Pistons Land Kyle Kuzma
Mavericks Offseason Moves
Draft Isaac Jones |PF| (58th)
Trade Tim Hardaway Jr. to DET for a Second-Round Pick
Re-sign Derrick Jones Jr.
Sign Tyus Jones
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Trade Explanation
Wiping Hardaway's money from the ledger without receiving a player in return might not align with the Mavericks' short-term goals. Though Hardaway looks dispensable now, that could change if Derrick Jones Jr. leaves in free agency and/or Dante Exum continues to look like an offensive liability in the playoffs.
But unloading THJ's money lowers Dallas' payroll far enough below the hard cap that it can spend the entire non-taxpayer mid-level without additional maneuvering. Depending on who they can sign (or trade for) with it, simply lopping off THJ's deal for second-round equity could be a route that appeals to them.
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Dallas Mavericks Potential Rotation
PG Luka Doncic/ Tyus Jones/ Dante Exum
SG Kyrie Irving/ Jaden Hardy
SF Derrick Jones Jr./ Josh Green/ Olivier Maxence-Prosper
PF PJ Washington/ Maxi Kleber/ Isaac Jones
C Daniel Gafford/ Dereck Lively II/ Dwight Powell
Pistons Offseason Moves
Draft Zaccharie Risacher |SG/SF| (1st)
Draft Hunter Sallis |SG| (53rd)
Trade Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, a First-Round Pick, and a Second-Round Pick to WAS for Kyle Kuzma
Trade a Second-Round Pick to DAL for Tim Hardaway Jr.
Re-sign Malachi Flynn
Re-sign Simone Fontecchio
Re-sign James Wiseman
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Trade Explanation
Hardaway is not a massive needle-mover. But his $16.2 million salary comes off the books in 2025, allowing the Pistons to roll over flexibility if they please. And even though he's barely seen run during the playoffs, he has a proven track record as a floor-spacer.
Over the past five seasons, Hardaway is knocking down 37.5 percent of his triples on 7.5 attempts per game. Between him and the (presumed) return of Simone Fontecchio, Detroit gets easier access to Cade Cunningham-Ausar-Thompson-plus-shooting arrangements that don't force them to break open long-term piggy bank, prematurely shell out longer-term assets or lean too heavily on leaps from Quentin Grimes and Marcus Sasser.
Two of the Pistons' worst seasons in franchise history have come in the past three years. This team will be linked to a lot of veterans in both free agency and trade rumors as they look to end a tortuous rebuild for the fanbase. One vet who could have a personal interest in seeing the revitalization of the franchise is Kuzma, who grew up an hour north of Detroit in Flint, Michigan.
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Detroit Pistons Potential Rotation
PG Cade Cunningham/ Malachi Flynn
SG Jaden Ivey/ Quentin Grimes/ Hunter Sallis
SF Zaccharie Risacher/ Tim Hardaway Jr./ Troy Brown Jr.
PF Kyle Kuzma/ Ausar Thompson/ Simon Fontecchio
C Jalen Duren/ James Wiseman
Wizards Offseason Moves
Draft Alex Sarr |PF/C| (2nd)
Draft Kyshawn George |SG/SF| (26th)
Draft Jalen Bridges |SF/PF| (51st)
Trade Kyle Kuzma to DET for Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, a First-Round Pick, and a Second-Round Pick
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Trade Explanation
The Wizards need to tear their franchise down to the studs and get a nice collection of players and picks for their remaining veterans. Stewart, 22, can play both power forward and center and shot a career-high 38.3 percent from three this past season. Sasser, 23, came on strong at the end of his rookie season, putting up 17.8 points and 5.2 assists while shooting 37.1 percent from deep over his final five games.
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Washington Wizards Potential Rotation
PG Jordan Poole/ Marcus Sasser
SG Bilal Coulibaly/ Landry Shamet/ Kyshawn George
SF Deni Avdija/ Corey Kispert/ Johnny Davis
PF Alex Sarr/ Patrick Baldwin Jr./ Jalen Bridges
C Marvin Bagley III/ Isaiah Stewart/ Tristan Vukcevic