Lakers: 3 Trade Deadline Targets at Small Forward

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Oct 13, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Stanley Johnson (7) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Age: 20

Contract: Signed a rookie scale, three-year, $8.9 million contract in 2015. Team options in 2017 and 2018. Average $2.9 million a year.

2016-17 Relevant Stats: 6.6 PTS, 3.4 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.4 BLK

If the Lakers can pull off a trade for Stanley Johnson without giving up any of their young pieces, I will take back everything I have ever said about the front office.

Drafted No. 8 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Johnson came into the league with a reputation of being a defensive-minded forward. He showed flashes of his defensive prowess throughout his rookie season, most notably against LeBron James in the first round of the playoffs last year.

However, when the Pistons acquired Tobias Harris at the trade deadline last year, it was unclear how Johnson fit in Detroit’s plans. Almost a year has passed and there is still some uncertainty.

Johnson has struggled to make an impact in his limited playing time with the Pistons this season which has led to a handful on DNPs and D-League assignments for the second-year forward.

He has scored in double figured only three times this season, all three times well below 20 points. While Johnson has never been known as an offensive star, that’s still not what you want to see from an athletic 20-year-old forward.

His production, or lack thereof, is one of the reasons the Pistons’ bench in suffering. The Pistons have one of the worst benches in the NBA, ranked No. 27 in points per game and dead last in three-point percentage. Unfortunately, their 3-point woes go beyond their bench.

The Pistons are ranked No. 27 in the NBA in three-point percentage, which isn’t surprising when you look at the makeup of their roster. With the exception of Andre Drummond, no one on the team is shooting above 40 percent from behind the arc. You know, like everyone expected.

The Pistons (21-27) can still make the playoffs and with teams like the Chicago Bulls (24-25) imploding, it’s more likely than not that they will, but Detroit should prioritize acquiring a pair of shooters at the deadline. It just so happens the Lakers have a few players that shoot the rock really well.

Lou Williams and Nick Young have made their livings scoring in bunches, whether it be off the bench or starting for a team with few options. Combined they’re putting 31.9 points per game, more than Detroit’s FOUR leading bench scorers–none of which are Stanley Johnson.

Sending Williams and Young for Johnson and Aaron Baynes would be a solid deal for both teams. The Pistons would get two high-quality scorers on dirt cheap contracts while the Lakers would get another promising young piece to add to their young core.

If the Pistons asked for a few second rounders on top, then so be it. Just get it done.

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