Bobcats deal Maggette, pick for Pistons’ Gordon
Updated: June 26, 2012, 9:15 PM ET
By Chad Ford | ESPN.com
The Detroit Pistons have agreed to trade Ben Gordon and a 2013 protected first-round draft pick to the Charlotte Bobcats for swingman Corey Maggette.
Maggette
Gordon
Sources told ESPN.com the first-round pick going to Charlotte is lottery-protected in 2013, top-eight protected in 2014, top-one protected in 2015 and unprotected in 2016.
The deal provides significant long-term savings for the Pistons. Maggette is in the last year of his contract that pays him $10.9 million during the 2012-13 season.
Gordon has two years, $25.6 million left on his contract, giving the Pistons a long-term savings of $14 million.
For the Bobcats, they get a much needed shooter in their backcourt. In a recent interview after a pre-draft workout, new coach Mike Dunlap told reporters that was the team’s biggest need.
“Definitely, shooters,” Dunlap said. “The ability to make the 3(-pointer) is really important because it allows you to play inside. What happens (in the absence of quality shooting) is the defense collapses and it gets crowded in there.
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“It’s always nice to have guys who can shoot a basketball.”
The Bobcats may not be done dealing. Sources say the team is looking at several other trade options, including trading the No. 2 pick in Thursday night’s draft.
The Bobcats are looking to add multiple assets. The team has spoken with several teams, but their talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers have been the most substantive. The Cavs have the Nos. 4, 24, 33 and 34 picks in the draft. If Cleveland is willing to offer both No. 4 and No. 24, it might be able to get a deal done by draft night.
If the Bobcats keep the No. 2 pick, the addition of Gordon may end talk that they’ll take Florida’s Bradley Beal at No. 2. Beal, like Gordon, is an undersized sharpshooter. Kansas’ Thomas Robinson and Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are also in the mix for the Bobcats at No. 2.
This trade won’t change the draft focus of the Pistons, however. They are leaning strongly toward taking a big man with the No. 9 pick. UConn center Andre Drummond and North Carolina’s John Henson are both getting strong consideration in Detroit, according to sources.
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