Grading the Pistons' Trade for Tony Snell

Image: Aaron Gash/Associated Press

Less than 24 hours until the 2019 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons have made their first move of the offseason. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported at 10:51 p.m. that Detroit traded forward/center Jon Leuer to the Milwaukee Bucks for forward Tony Snell and the 30th pick in the draft.

Leuer signed a four-year/$42 million contract with the Pistons in the summer of 2016. After playing a solid role for Detroit in his first season, his numbers and role took a steady decline.

Leuer played 75 games for Detroit during the 2016-17 season, putting up averages of 10.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds on 48 percent shooting and 29.3 percent from three. Since that year, Leuer has only played in 49 games for Detroit, being limited to only eight games in 2017-18 due to a high-grade ankle sprain.

With Leuer on the books for $9.5 million next season, Detroit sent Leuer to the Bucks for Snell and the 30th pick.

Snell is coming off a season where he played in 74 games averaging six points and two rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game, while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 39.7 percent from three-point range.

The Pistons will now have Snell under contract until the 2021 offseason, earning $11.3 million in 2019-20 and $12.1 million in 2019-20.

With a need for depth on the wings and three-point shooting, this is a solid trade for the Pistons. Detroit brought in a 6’7” shooter, as well as a late first-round pick for Jon Leuer, who fell out of Dwane Casey’s rotation.

Not only is Snell a knockdown shooter, but he is able to put the ball on the floor and creating scoring opportunities for himself.

https://twitter.com/IKE_Bucks/status/1141548905387237377

By adding someone who can create scoring for himself, Blake Griffin will have more time to take on his man in the post, which we saw a lot of last season, while having another shooter on the roster to kick it out to. 

With adding Snell to the roster, Detroit will now have approximately $2 million less in cap space this offseason. However, with two first round picks and a second round pick in the draft, Detroit could use their little cap space to bring in a few guys who could contribute next season for cheap.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1055303031464562689

Grade: B+

All in all, this is a very solid trade and beginning to the 2018-19 offseason for Ed Stefanski and the Pistons front office. Detroit now has 10 players under contract going into the draft.

With the roster makeup how it currently is, Detroit is looking at a starting lineup of Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Snell, Griffin, and Andre Drummond.

We will continue to update everyone on the trade and what Ed Stefanski has to say about Snell. Let us know what you think of the trade in the comments and on Twitter at @palaceofpistons.

*Stats from basketball-reference.com

Featured image: Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports