The Pistons have asked for a 24-hour extension of the typical 72-hour trade window to further evaluate Donatas Motiejunas’ back condition, Detroit coach/executive Stan Van Gundy told reporters, including Keith Langlois of NBA.com (Twitter link). There is a chance that the trade could be voided, but Rod Beard of the Detroit News tweets the possibility of that is “small.” The Pistons’ request has not been approved yet, as David Mayo of MLive points out (on Twitter). The 72-hour window would end tonight and the extension would push that deadline to Monday night. The Pistons acquired Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton from the Rockets as part of a three-team trade Thursday involving the Sixers, despite acknowledging the risk that came with adding Motiejunas because of his persistent back issues. The Pistons have consulted with a back specialist in addition to several doctors, which has contributed to the delay, Beard tweets.
Here’s more from around the Central Division:
- The Bulls are currently the front-runners to re-sign Pau Gasol this summer, but the way Chicago finishes the season will hold weight, and the center revealed the coaching change from Tom Thibodeau to Fred Hoiberg will also factor into his decision, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times relays.
- The Cavs should have retained Anderson Varejao because of his selfless attitude and willingness to accept a diminished role in a quest toward a championship, Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer opines. The Cavs acquired Channing Frye and traded Varejao to the Trail Blazers in a deal that was officially structured as two separate trades. The Blazers then waived Varejao. Haynes wonders if adding Frye significantly improves the Cavs and if his presence was worth moving Varejao, who has played his entire 13-year career in Cleveland.
- LeBron James was not consulted by the Cavs front office before Varejao was moved, according to Joe Vardon of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. James has referred to Varejao as one of his favorite teammates, as Vardon notes.
I love how when someone leaves the cavs, lebron never knows
I highly doubt James would want Varejao gone. It is kind of funny how that plays out, but at least this time there is reason to believe James didn’t know.
So if the Montiejunas deal is voided, would that reverse the Joel Anthony deal as well? And what would happen to JaKarr Sampson? Would his waiver be reversed?
Motiejunas and Anthony were a part of the same three-team trade, so yes, Anthony would go back to the Pistons. But Sampson’s waiver wouldn’t be reversed, as far as I can tell.
Leave that mess in Chicago Pau. Go somewhere that can win and doesn’t have a dis functional front office.