Milwaukee Bucks agree to trade Thon Maker to Detroit Pistons
MILWAUKEE (AP/CBS 58) -- A person familiar with the situation says the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade center Thon Maker to the Detroit Pistons for forward Stanley Johnson.
The person spoke to The Associated Press Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been publicly announced. Johnson and Maker are both recent lottery picks who have struggled to make a consistent impact. Now, they'll both have a change of scenery.
The trade was first announced by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski who said that the deal has been agreed on between the two teams in principle.
Pistons are finalizing a trade to send Stanley Johnson to Milwaukee for Thon Maker, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019
Maker had reportedly asked for a trade to a team where he could have a more prominent role. His playing time this season has dropped from previous years.
ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth reached out to Giannis who reportedly said, "Thon is like my little brother, this one hurts more than any trade that happened that I've been a part of but this is the business we work in. I talked to Thon, but I didn't try to talk to him a lot cause I know I would get emotional cause he's technically my little brother. Been with him three years. You know it's tough but he's a tough guy and this opportunity is going to be good for him."
“I talked to thon...But I didn’t try to talk to him a lot cause I know I would get emotional cause he’s technically my little brother, been with him 3 years...you know it’s tough but he’s a tough guy and this opportunity is going to be good for him.” — @Giannis_An34
— Cassidy Hubbarth (@CassidyHubbarth) February 6, 2019
The Pistons took Johnson with the No. 8 pick in the 2015 draft. He's averaged 7.5 points a game this season, playing mostly in a backup role, but he's just a 29-percent shooter from 3-point range for his career.
The 7-foot-1 Maker was the 10th pick in 2016. He started 34 games as a rookie in 2016-17 but has mostly come off the bench since then.