Less than an hour after the Pistons traded for Jameer Nelson, Stan Van Gundy decided that was not enough. In need of some depth at point guard and small forward, Stan Van Gundy worked quickly to grab some cheap adding to a growingly competent bench unit.
Memphis has traded James Ennis to Detroit for Brice Johnson and a second-round pick, league sources tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Blake Griffin is now the last man standing that came over in the trade with Los Angeles Clippers. Earlier Van Gundy flipped center Willie Reed in order to be reunited with guard Jameer Nelson. Now he flipped the other piece of that trade Brice Johnson for Memphis Grizzly James Ennis.
Ennis is averaging nearly seven points and three and a half rebounds per contest with the Grizzlies. Ennis may have trouble finding minutes at first given that Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson have stepped up in major ways recently.
Stan Van Gundy, who clearly has little regards for draft picks, has now flipped two players in Willie Reed and Brice Johnson who were not going to see the court, for James Ennis and Jameer Nelson who will provide depth minutes off the bench.
With the state of the Eastern Conference, it appears that Van Gundy is rearing up to make a run in the playoffs. Just this past week the Pistons have acquired their much-needed superstar in Blake Griffin and are now starting to put more depth around him. Both of those are part of a recipe for championship teams. Not that the Pistons are NBA championship ready yet, but they could be setting us up for a fun playoff run.
The Pistons play the Clippers, Atlanta (twice), and New Orleans in the next four games leading up to the ALl-Star Break. Given that schedule, there is a real chance that the Pistons ride a nine-game winning streak into the All-Star game. The Pistons are only four games out of the THIRD spot in the Eastern Conference so a steady climb up the standings is there for the taking.
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BREAKING: Pistons acquire veteran point guard in trade
Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons have made another trade. This time picking up a veteran point guard to help fill the absence of Reggie Jackson.
Stan Van Gundy and Jameer Nelson are well acquainted. Nelson played with Van Gundy in Orlando during the successful Dwight Howard era that saw them advance to the 2009 NBA finals. Nelson was just acquired by the Bulls this past week in a trade that sent their star forward Nikola Mirotic to the Pelicans.
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