Pistons Trade Could Have Huge Impact on Raptors Plans for Pascal Siakam

The Detroit Pistons made a noteworthy cap-saving trade with the Washington Wizards that could have a big impact on the Toronto Raptors plans for Pascal Siakam

The Detroit Pistons are planning something.

Seemingly out of nowhere Sunday morning Detroit worked out a deal with the Washington Wizards to send Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and two future second-round draft picks to Washington for Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

On the surface, it appears like a meaningless trade between two of the NBA’s very worst teams. None of the players in the trade is an impact player by any means.

But Detroit clearly has something up its sleeve.

The trade offloaded $12.5 million in salary Detroit had committed to Bagley for next season, giving the Pistons potentially over $64 million in cap space for next summer.

For Toronto Raptors, that should be somewhat alarming as Pascal Siakam is widely expected to be among the top free agents available this summer. Toronto has not worked out an extension with the two-time All-Star and suddenly there’s another team lurking who can offer a max contract to Siakam.

Detroit has been connected to Siakam in trade rumors too, though now it seems more likely the Pistons would prefer to pursue Siakam in free agency rather than make a big offer for him ahead of the trade deadline.

It’s unclear what else the Pistons could be looking to do with that cap space. OG Anunoby is also expected to hit unrestricted free agency, though it’s likely he re-signs with the New York Knicks. Paul George and James Harden are expected to be back with the Los Angeles Clippers. Tobias Harris may be available if he’s not re-signed by the Philadelphia 76ers.