Trade Grades: Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons Trade

Inside The Wizards staff writer Gage Sheets grades the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons trade.

We knew trades were going to start happening sooner rather than later for the Washington Wizards and they delivered the first one over the weekend.

The Wizards completed a trade with the Detroit Pistons for Pistons guard Isaiah Livers, center Marvin Bagley III and two second-round draft picks.

Washington sent back forwards Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari to Detroit.

READ MORE: Wizards-Pistons Make Trade

Moving Gallinari and Muscala was going to happen, it was all about waiting for the right package for the veteran forwards.

Let's see how these trades graded out.

Wizards: Acquired Bagley, Livers, Two Future Second-Round Picks

Grade: A+

Washinton General Manager Will Dawkins continues to prove he is absolutely the right man for this job.

An A+ may be looked at as optimistic but to get a center with the offensive upside of Bagley for two expiring veteran contracts would of gotten a good grade.

Bagley is averaging 10.2 points in 18.4 minutes per game while shooting 59.1 percent from the field.

Bagley may not have the greatest stats but he's going to get a better opportunity and there is low risk to take his type of talent on here.

Jan 12, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Marvin Bagley III (35) grabs the ball after a Houston Rockets basket during the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports / David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

But that wasn't enough for Dawkins as he decided to reach for the stars and grab Livers also, who is a former teammate of current Wizards guard Jordan Poole at the University of Michigan.

But then shockingly enough he also got two future second-round picks!

Second-rounders aren't always looked at as great value but there have been some absolute steals in the last round of the draft lately and if Dawkins can get any value out of them this trade looks even better.

Watching Washington plug Bagley in next to defensive juggernaut center Daniel Gafford is going to be fun to watch.

Pistons: Acquired Muscala, Gallinari

Grade: B-

This move was all about cap space for the Pistons.

They are trending towards having a ton of money this off-season to try and lure free agents to come play for them.

Bagley was already starting to drop out of the rotation, but injuries kept him in, so moving him and his guaranteed 12.5 million dollars for this year and next was a smart move.

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Adding two veterans with expiring contracts helps their situation also as both Gallinari and Muscala will be free agents at the end of the year.

Giving up two picks in a rebuild isn't ideal though, as you should be collecting all the young talent you can which is why the grade for the Pistons isn't as high as it could have been.

Final Thoughts

Both teams got what they wanted here but Dawkins and the Wizards made a fantastic move not just a good one.

After the season we will look back and see if these grades changed at all.

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