NBA Rumors: Danilo Gallinari and Marvin Bagley III Headline Pistons, Wizards Trade

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 14, 2024

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons are acquiring Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala from the Washington Wizards for Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers and a pair of second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespnDetroit moves Bagley’s contract ($12.5M in 2024-2025) for two future second-round picks. Livers ($1.8M), Gallinari ($6.8M) and Muscala ($3.5M) are on expiring contracts. https://t.co/qRnVfR6JbJ

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespnIn Wizards-Pistons deal today, Detroit created a $5.7 million trade exception and Washington created a $3.5M trade exception, per sources. https://t.co/xJXqA8LJcV

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2Marvin Bagley III and Isaiah Livers saying goodbye to their teammates. You don’t see this kind of immediate reaction too often in pro sports. pic.twitter.com/JFPU7EeWRx

The Wizards and Pistons are the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference with 10 combined wins between them. By adding a pair of veterans, it looks as though Detroit is at least aiming to get a small boost in the short term.

Gallinari and Muscala could specifically address what has been a persistent problem for the Pistons. They’re averaging the fewest three-point makes (10.6) and have the third-worst three-point percentage (34.4) in the NBA.

Gallinari, who missed all of 2022-23 due to a torn ACL, is only hitting 31.3 percent of his threes, but he’s a proven stretch 4 and a much better shooter than Bagley or Livers. The same is broadly true of Muscala, who sports a 27.5 percent clip from deep this year but is a career 37.5 percent three-point shooter.

The two second-rounders might be the biggest part of the haul on Washington’s side.

Bagley’s 18.4 minutes per game are a career low. He had five straight games without suiting up before getting on the floor for Friday’s 112-110 loss to the Houston Rockets. At this point, the ship has sailed on the 2018 No. 2 overall pick making a breakthrough.

Livers, meanwhile, is averaging 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds through 23 appearances. He has also shot just 34.5 percent from the floor.

The draft picks at least give the Wizards something to flip down the road, or they can be utilized to fill out the roster.

For Detroit, finances probably drove this trade more than any other factor, though.

Gallinari and Muscala are both impending free agents, and now the Pistons are no longer on the hook for Bagley’s $12.5 million salary in 2024-25.

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42Shedding the Marvin Bagley II contract for next season has Detroit with a projected $64M in room.

Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported on Jan. 5 that Detroit was among the suitors for Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam. On Thursday, Fischer included the team in the list of interested parties in Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.

The Pistons have added flexibility to give Siakam a max contract in the offseason or assume the four-year, $114 million extension Murray signed with the Hawks.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill, something big could be coming down the pike:

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwillThe Pistons are acquiring Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari from the Wizards for Marvin Bagley and Isaiah Livers along with two second round picks, sources tell @YahooSports. Woj first on the news.

“First step”, high ranking source says

Especially when the Pistons already had plenty of frontcourt depth, it wouldn’t be shocking if both Gallinari and Muscala only have a brief stay in the Motor City.