Miami Heat: 4-team trade idea; Griffin, Wall, Drummond, Barnes, and more

Head coach Erik Spoelstra (L) and President Pat Riley (R) of the Miami Heat talk (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
Head coach Erik Spoelstra (L) and President Pat Riley (R) of the Miami Heat talk (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
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DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 26: Blake Griffin #23 and Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons look on during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 26, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 26: Blake Griffin #23 and Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons look on during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 26, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons begin their rebuild

In this trade idea, the Detroit Pistons move on from Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson. In return for, Josh Richardson, Harrison Barnes, Dwight Howard, and Ian Mahinmi, as well as several draft picks (2019, 2020, 2023).

The Pistons make this move simply to get out of hefty contracts for the next 3-4 years, and getting back Mahinmi and Barnes ($50 million next season, then free agents in summer of 2020) doesn’t necessarily help. However, grabbing Richardson, as a potential All-Star at 27-years-old in 2021 (making $10-11 million until 2022), with enough cap space for two max contract players in 2021, could be very enticing for an organization that hasn’t seen playoff success in over a decade.

Not to mention, the two protected firsts from Miami and Washington over the next two summers would add young talent to a roster that is hoping to utilize their young guys, as they haven’t over the past few years (Stanley Johnson, Luke Kennard, Glenn Robinson, Khyrie Thomas, Bruce Brown, even Reggie Bullock).

If these Pistons do intend to rebuild, they also have a former 2018 Head Coach of the Year, Dwane Casey, to lead the charge. In conclusion, I don’t see the Pistons keeping Griffin and Drummond and having playoff success over the next few seasons, so I would immediately do this.