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Detroit Pistons involved in second minor deal ahead of NBA trade deadline

By Zac Snyder

James Ennis III #8 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives the ball to the basket as Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons defends during the first quarter of the game at Little Caesars Arena on February 1, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
James Ennis III #8 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives the ball to the basket as Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons defends during the first quarter of the game at Little Caesars Arena on February 1, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly agreed to a swap of players hours before the 2018 NBA trade deadline.

With just hours now to go until we reach the 2018 NBA trade deadline, the Detroit Pistons have reportedly agreed to a second deal of the day.

After earlier trading away center Willie Reed, the Pistons have now traded away the other player they acquired in the Blake Griffin deal.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons are sending Brice Johnson and a second-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for small forward James Ennis.

Johnson was rumored to be part of a deal the Pistons were pursuing to add Dante Cunningham from the New Orleans Pelicans but ultimately it is the Grizzlies and Ennis with which they find the fit to get a deal done. With this deal the Pistons have now traded away both players who came along with Blake Griffin in last month’s trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Neither Johnson nor Reed had much of a role or future with the Pistons but they were able to be flipped for two players who should be able to help down the stretch. Jameer Nelson, acquired for Reed earlier today from the Bulls, will add depth to the point guard rotation while Ennis provides help on the wing.

Ennis has found a regular role with the Grizzlies over the last two seasons after spending time bouncing between the NBA and D-League prior to that. He is in the last year of the two-year, $6 million contract he signed with the Grizzlies in July 2016.

It remains to be seen if the Pistons attempt to pull off any more deals in the final hours before the deadline but it’s already been a pretty good day of work. They have been able to add some depth with two players who can contribute for two players who were now quite clearly little more than throw-ins to the Blake Griffin deal.

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