In reality, Stanley Johnson was never going to the Bucks. He's headed to the Pelicans instead.
It was reported on Wednesday that Detroit traded Johnson to Milwaukee for Thon Maker, but neither team ever formally announced the deal -- despite the news making the rounds on Twitter.
Turns out, the Bucks were making a play all along for the Pelicans' Nikola Mirotic, and needed the Pistons involved to make things work. Maker is still coming to Detroit, but Johnson is on his way to New Orleans, per NBA insider Kevin Smith.
The Pelicans are also receiving several draft picks in the the deal, according to Tim Bontemps, but none are coming from the Pistons.
Johnson, 22, was Detroit's first-round draft pick (eighth overall) in 2015. He averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting just 38 percent from the field in 48 games this season.
His best season with the Pistons may well have come when he was a rookie. He's showed marginal improvement, at best, in the years since.
In Maker, the Pistons get another lottery pick who hasn't yet panned out. The 7'1 center was selected tenth overall in the 2016 draft.
In 35 games (no starts) this season with Milwaukee, Maker, 21, averaged 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds while playing just 11 minutes per night.
