5 trades to help Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons finish their wall

By John Buhler | Feb 8, 2017

Feb 1, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head basketball coach Stan Van Gundy reacts to a call during the third quarter of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 118-98. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 27, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs won the game 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /

Patty Mills

Point Guard, San Antonio Spurs

For as much fun as it would be to see Washington Wizards star point guard John Wall as a prominent piece of Van Gundy’s Wall, he just doesn’t seem like that kind of wall guy. Point guard is a weak point in the wall, so let’s bring in an underrated backup point guard in Patty Mills to fix this thing.

Mills comes from the elite basketball culture with the San Antonio Spurs. It will take a lot for Van Gundy to pry Mills away from San Antonio. The Spurs know that Tony Parker’s best days are behind him. Mills is incredibly useful with the second unit but Dejounte Murray is coming along quickly and he’s the future for San Antonio.

Given that Mills will be a free agent this summer, the Spurs may not be able to get a ton from the Pistons for him in a trade. Perhaps the Spurs want some frontcourt depth for their playoff push. Or maybe some youth for their future

Aron Baynes or Ish Smith would work for Mills and filler. Van Gundy isn’t going to like that, as Baynes and Smith already make his wall pretty good. However, backcourt defensive deficiencies could undermine Van Gundy’s wall and can’t have that. Stanley Johnson straight up would also work, and Mills would look really good in that Pistons wall.

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