The Detroit Pistons have made another move as Thursday’s trade deadline draws near, this time sending Stanley Johnson to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for center Thon Maker.
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While the deal has not been finalized yet, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the deal has been agreed to in principle:
Deal is agreed in principle, per source. https://t.co/89WlGXf5qh
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019
Both Stanley Johnson and Thon Maker are two former lottery picks that haven’t reached their full potential. The trade offers both players a chance to accelerate their careers in fresh environments.
This is the second trade the Pistons have made prior to Thursday’s trade deadline, as they agreed to a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday swapping Reggie Bullock for Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a second-round pick.
Stanley Johnson Analysis
Stanley Johnson, who is 22, was selected by the Pistons with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. In his fourth NBA season with Detroit, Johnson is averaging 20.0 minutes, 7.5 points, and 3.6 rebounds according to ESPN. For his career, Johson is averaging 22.1 minutes, 7.1 points, and 3.5 rebounds.
Johnson joins the Bucks, who have the NBA’s best record at 39-13. He’ll provide the team with another strong wing defender as they prepare for a playoff push. Stanley Johnson can become a restricted free agent this summer.
Thon Maker Analysis
Thon Maker is a 7-foot-1, 21-year-old center who has shown stretches of terrific promise in the league, but he’s been in and out of the Bucks rotation throughout the season.
Maker is averaging 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds while averaging 11.7 minutes in 35 games this season. Despite the reduction in playing time, Maker has raised his scoring and rebounding production per 36 minutes to 14.4 and 8.4, respectively, as well as his player efficiency rating to 13.1 from 10.2 according to ESPN.
According to a report from ESPN, Maker told Bucks management he would prefer to be traded to a team that would provide a larger role back in January. He’ll get an opportunity for playing time with Dwane Casey.
Maker is a talented prospect with one year left on his rookie deal and will be eligible to negotiate a rookie contract extension this offseason.
Thon Maker emigrated from war-torn South Sudan to Australia as a young man before settling into Canada before the 2016 NBA draft.
