This Pistons-Spurs trade proposal swaps two intriguing players

One NBA writer is proposing that the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs make a trade centered around Reggie Bullock and Marvin Bagley III.

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed that the Pistons trade Marvin Bagley III, a 2024 second-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick to the Spurs for Bullock.

The Dallas Mavericks traded Bullock to the Spurs as part of the Grant Williams sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics. The shooting guard has played for the Pistons before.

“Bullock can be all over the place on offense, but he’s a career 38.4 percent three-point shooter who provides real volume and gives Detroit even more paths to three- and four-out lineups,” Favale wrote. “His defense, meanwhile, scales to both guard spots as well as some wings, and he’s still able to tackle higher-usage assignments.

“Subbing out Bagley’s deal for Bullock’s expiring contract also drums up more flexibility ahead of next summer. Two seconds should be enough for the Spurs to eat the extra year. Bagley’s contract is, for now, a net negative, but he’s earning less than non-taxpayer mid-level money.”

Bullock will make $10.5 million next season. He’s in the final year of a three-year, $30 million contract he signed with the Mavericks in the summer of 2021. The veteran appeared in 78 games for the Mavericks this past season. He averaged 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 40.9% from the field, 38.0% from beyond the arc and 70.3% from the free-throw line.

The 32-year-old Bullock has career averages of 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists with the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Mavericks. He is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA.

The Sacramento Kings drafted Bagley III with the second overall pick in the 2019 draft instead of taking Luka Doncic. Bagley III has career averages of 13.3 points and 7.2 rebounds with the Kings and Pistons. He hasn’t turned into a superstar like Doncic.

If Bagley III landed with the Spurs, he would be joining a franchise with a history of developing big men properly. Maybe that’s what he needs to jumpstart his career.