Two of the league’s worst and less-interesting teams — the DetroitPistons and Charlotte Bobcats – consummated a trade that hardly will alter the fate of their respective teams.
Guard Ben Gordon, who never fit in Detroit, was shipped with a future first-round pick to the Bobcats for nomad forward Corey Maggette.
“We welcome Corey Maggette to our organization in a transaction that provides us with a veteran scorer and defender in addition to increased roster flexibility moving forward,” said Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations. “We thank Ben Gordon for his commitment to our organization over the last three years and wish him the best in the future.”
Gordon, 29, averaged 12.5 points and 2.4 assists in 26.9 minutes per game last season. He is on the books for $12.4 million in 2012-13 and has a player option worth $13.2 million for 2013-14.
Maggette, 32, averaged 15.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game, although he appeared in less than half of Charlotte’s games because of injury. Maggette is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $10.9 million. Detroit makes the sixth team he has played for in his career.
The Bobcats actually acquired Maggette in a 3-team trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings on the night of the 2011 NBA Draft. He didn’t last long. His merry-go-around figures to continue swinging after a brief stay in Detroit.
