Detroit Pistons reportedly called Wizards about possible Blake Griffin-for-John Wall trade

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The Detroit Pistons puzzled many across NBA circles with their dizzying array of trades and free agent moves the last two weeks.

But they nearly made one move that would have dropped everyone’s jaw.

ESPN writer Zach Lowe has assessed the NBA free agency moves, since most of the big moves have happened, and training camp begins next week.

Lowe gave the Pistons his “Stupider Like a Fox” award — we think it’s a compliment — for acquiring all these centers when the best of the bunch, Christian Wood, was sent packing to Houston.

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But the real nugget in Lowe’s analysis was his report that the Pistons made “an exploratory call to the Washington Wizards about a potential swap of (Blake) Griffin for John Wall.”

Whoa!

Griffin, 31, is an oft-injured former No. 1 overall pick and All-Star with an enormous contract.

Wall, 30, is an oft-injured former No. 1 overall pick and All-Star with an enormous contract.

So, yeah, they match up, we guess.

Griffin, coming off of knee surgery that ended his 2020 season prematurely, is making $36.6 million this season and has a $38.9 million player option for 2021-22.

Wall, coming off left heel and then left Achilles surgery two winters ago, is making $40.8 million this season, $43.8 million next season and has a $46.8 million player option for 2022-23.

Lowe wrote that it is unclear just how interested the Pistons were on making the deal, but that the conversations didn’t gain much traction. Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said Monday that there are no plans to trade Wall, who missed all of last season.

Funny enough, these players were both on the 2011 NBA All-Rookie team and finished first and second for the Rookie of the Year award, won by Griffin.

Contact Kirkland Crawford: kcrawford@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @HiKirkHere.

This article was originally published by Freep.com. Read the original article here.