Detroit Pistons Troy Weaver said he will be aggressive this offseason, and he kept his word. He sent Jerami Grant to the Portland Trail Blazers the day before the draft, and he used a pick secured in that trade to trade into today’s NBA draft lottery to draft coveted big man Jalen Duren from Memphis.
The deal was a three-team trade involving the Charlotte Hornets, the New York Knicks and the Pistons. Detroit will send Charlotte to the 2025 first-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks and take over the final year of Kemba Walker’s $9.1 million contract.
According to Rod Boone, Charlotte will receive additional assets.
Sources: #hornets Compensation for Jalen Duren:
2023 Denver 1st round pick
2023 Knicks pick for second round
2023 Utah Second Round Pick
2023 Dallas/Miami 2nd Round Pick (Cheapest)
2024 Knicks pick for second round— Rod Boone (@rodboone) June 24, 2022
Honestly, I don’t understand whose pickaxe originally belonged to whom, but we’ll figure it out.
The Knicks were looking to save money as they attempted to pursue free agents this offseason. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Pistons and Walker will discuss a buyout that will allow Kemba to enter the free hand and try to keep up with a rival team.
Duren is one of the most athletic tall men in the draft, which is an issue for Weaver after drafting perhaps the most athletic guard in Jaden Ivey at #5.
Duren is 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds and is one of the draft’s youngest players. He has a wingspan of 7ft 5.25 and averages 11.6 rebounds and 3 blocks per 36 minutes.
We’ll have more about majors on DBB soon.