Pistons Land Donatas Motiejunas, Send Joel Anthony And First Round Pick To Houston

The Detroit Pistons confirmed that they have traded for Houston Rockets’ power forward Donatas Motiejunas in exchange for center Joel Anthony and a protected first-round pick.

Detroit (27-27), has managed to stockpile a number of young and talented players, they traded for Tobias Harris earlier in the week, and they now believe they have the pieces necessary to form a strong core and foundation for the future.

Motiejunas has seen very little playing time this season as he has had numerous setbacks since undergoing back surgery last spring.  During the 2014-15 season, he averaged 12 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The 25-year-old from Lithuania stands 7’0 and weighs 222 pounds and he has proved to be a consistent mid-range jump shooter (48.2% career) and has the length to cause matchup problems as a stretch center or power forward.

Pistons’ coach and president Stan Van Gundy seems confident that Motiejunas will mesh well in the Motor City, “A really good, talented 7-foot guy who played about two thirds of minutes his minutes with Dwight Howard, so he can play with Andre (Drummond) but he can also play as a backup center,” Van Gundy said. “Now we have what we talked about this year, and that’s a chance to play a stretch-five and not just a stretch-four.”

If healthy the Pistons ideal starting five would all be 25 years or younger and have the talent to play with anyone in the league. Point guard Reggie Jackson (25) was acquired at the deadline last year from Oklahoma City in a three team trade that sent Enes Kanter to the Thunder from Utah.  Jackson (19.1 points and 6.2 assists per game), is joined in the backcourt by shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (23) who averages 14.6 points per game. Throw in Harris (23) at small forward with his 13.7 points and 7 rebounds joined with Motiejunas surrounding the center Andre Drummond (22), the league’s leading rebounder (14.9) to go with his 17 points per game, the Pistons have the makings of a dangerous playoff team in the East.

Off the bench the Pistons have more young and capable contributors in Marcus Morris (13.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG) and 19-year old rookie, Stanley Johnson (9.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG).  The Pistons also received veteran wing Marcus Thornton to provide a veteran presence and solid shooting while Jodie Meeks recovers from a Jones fracture in his right foot.

Despite the team’s potential, the Pistons still are on the outside looking in for the playoffs.  They are currently in ninth place but only half a game behind division rival Chicago.  They will look to get on the right track tonight in Washington at 7:00 p.m. against the tenth place Wizards.

The pick received by Houston is top 8 protected for 2016 and top 10 for 2017 and 2018.  The Rockets are currently in the eighth spot in the West despite being under .500 at 27-28.  The team unsuccessfully tried to trade center Dwight Howard at the deadline.  Houston will need Howard and James Harden to reconcile their differences if they want to be a contender in the playoffs this year.  They travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns tonight at 9:30.

PHOTO: BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 24: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends against Joel Anthony #50 of the Boston Celtics during a game at the TD Garden on January 24, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

Article by Nick Vigliotti