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The Kings swung a trade for Delon Wright on Wednesday night. Sacramento is sending Cory Joseph and two seconds to the Pistons.
Detroit is replenishing their second-round pick collection. Sacramento has moved Joseph’s salary to bring a player more in-keeping with their core. Wright has been impressive on the rebuilding Pistons this season.
This isn’t exactly a massive trade deadline move. Perhaps, though, it’s the precursor to further moves for Sacramento, potentially involving Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley or Nemanja Bjelica. Taking on Wright’s salary into next season makes it more challenging to re-sign Richaun Holmes.
Wright is owed $8.5 million next season. The Kings have big money committed to Barnes, De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield. Sacramento isn’t making waves in the Western Conference this season, and Wright is no more than a bench piece, but could this set them up to make a splash? Plenty of teams will be interested if Barnes becomes available.
On Detroit’s end, this is a simple move to get more picks. The Pistons sent out multiple seconds in the chaotic Luke Kennard trade. Being able to take upside swings in the second round is a must for any rebuilding club. These picks might not result in any useful NBA players, but getting some future assets was a necessity for the Pistons, who are deep in the NBA wilderness.
Delon Wright trade: What are the Kings getting?
Wright is an accomplished defender. Ranked 30th in defensive rating, he’s exactly what the Kings need. Over the last couple of seasons, he’s shown he can be a solid three-point shooter, albeit on low volume. While Tyrese Haliburton and Fox will carry the majority of the playmaking burden, Wright can do a bit off the bounce, as shown by his five assists per game this season.
This is a solid move for Sacramento. Instead of recklessly going in either direction, Wright is a good compromise and a notable bench upgrade. For Detroit, this is just the latest step in a long rebuild. The Pistons will be hoping to acquire some more picks before the deadline, though there’s a limited number of desirable players left on their roster.
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