At some point Thursday night, it sounds like Troy Weaver and the Pistons nearly pulled off a trade for forward and former fourth overall pick De'Andre Hunter of the Hawks. And maybe they'll revisit it this summer.
Atlanta and Detroit had "significant talks about moving Hunter to the Pistons" according to Yahoo! Sports, but nothing came to pass. The Hawks are trying to shed salary ahead of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement that will bring steeper penalties to teams that exceed the salary cap.
Hunter is entering the first season of a $90 million extension that will pay him an average of $22.5 million per year through 2026-27. He enjoyed a breakout season with Atlanta in 2020-21, but his production has stalled since. He put up 15.4 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 35 percent from three last season.
Between his athleticism, versatility and strong defense -- and draft pedigree -- the 25-year-old Hunter is Weaver's kind of player. Weaver has taken fliers on similar players in the past, like James Wiseman, Marvin Bagley III, Jahlil Okafor and Josh Jackson, all of whom were top-four picks. Only Wiseman and Bagley remain with the team.
For the Pistons, taking on Hunter's contract also might have been an avenue toward acquiring more draft picks.
They may have drafted a younger, better version of Hunter fifth overall as it is in Ausar Thompson, a highly-athletic wing with elite defensive traits and what Weaver called "underrated" offensive potential.
Still, Hunter is a name worth watching for Detroit as the offseason continues.
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