Detroit Pistons trade Svi Mykhailiuk, pick to OKC for Hamidou Diallo
The Detroit Pistons have traded Svi Mykhailiuk and a 2027 second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Hamidou Diallo, a league source confirmed on Friday.
The move continues Troy Weaver’s aggressive remake of the roster, which started in November and has persisted into the regular season. Mykhailiuk is the third player to depart the roster this season after the Pistons reached a buyout with Blake Griffin last week and traded Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks in February.
SAYING HELLO:Meet Hamidou Diallo: Former Slam Dunk champ enjoying career year
Mykhailiuk, a third-year forward and previously the longest-tenured member of the team, has been in the midst of a prolonged shooting slump this season after knocking down 40.4% of his 3-pointers a year ago. Through 36 games, he averaged 6.9 points and 1.6 assists while shooting 37.7% overall and 33.3% from 3.
Diallo, the 45th pick of the 2018 draft, is a player Weaver is already familiar with. Weaver was an assistant GM for the Thunder when they traded for Diallo on draft night. A former five-star recruit and 2019 Slam Dunk Contest champion, he’s a hyper-athletic 6-foot-5 shooting guard with a 7-foot wingspan.
His salary this season is the same as Mykhailiuk’s — $1,663,861 — and Diallo can also enter restricted free agency this offseason. END NEW
The Pistons acquired Mykhailiuk, along with a second-round pick, in 2019 in a trade that sent Reggie Bullock to the Los Angeles Lakers. Mykhailiuk showed flashes as an all-around offensive player this season, reaching a career-high eight assists on Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets. But he struggled with consistency, and his once-trusty shooting stroke eluded him for most of the season. Mykhailiuk drifted up-and-down Dwane Casey’s rotation this year. END NEW
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In Diallo, the Pistons get a player who doesn’t take many 3-pointers, but can get to the rim and finish. He’s taking 54% of his shots at the rim this season — one of the highest rates in the NBA among wings, and is making shots at the rim at an above-average 63% clip. His length and athleticism make him a two-way player with upside.
Through 32 games, Diallo’s averaging 11.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a steal while shooting 48.1% overall and 29.3% from 3.
ESPN initially broke the news of the trade.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. The Free Press has started a new digital subscription model.
Read More: Detroit Pistons trade Svi Mykhailiuk, pick to OKC for Hamidou Diallo