Deividas Sirvydis and Derrick Walton Jr. played last season for the detroit pistons, as well as its G-League affiliate, Motor City Cruise. Now both have been traded, though, but not by the Pistons.
Many basketball fans may not be aware that G-League teams can make their own trades and even trade draft picks. Since almost every team in the G-League is run by NBA clubs, people might assume that everything flows from the big team.
The latest transaction involved two players who were with the Pistons organization last season, but the trade was strictly at the G-League level:
Ironically, the Mad Ants play in the former hometown of the Pistons, who moved to Detroit from Fort Wayne in 1958.
Here is a breakdown of the trade:
Fort Wayne receives: return the rights to Derrick Walton Jr. and deividas sirvydis plus the 2023 Cruise second-round pick.
Motor City Cruise receives: Return rights to former Indiana Pacers guard Keifer Sykes
Sirvydis has been a part of the Pistons organization since trading three second-round picks in June 2019 for his rights from the Dallas Mavericks.
The 6-7 guard stayed in his native Lithuania for a year but was on the Pistons’ roster for the 2020-21 season, appearing in 20 games. The looked promising at the end of the season.
However, Sirvydis was released shortly after the season ended, as general manager Troy Weaver needed the roster spot. Despite being released, Sirvydis still played for the Pistons in summer league, participated in training camp and was then assigned to the Cruise.
When Detroit was hit by COVID-19, Sirvydis even returned to play three games for the Pistons.
Although the club that trades him is affiliated with the Pistons, Sirvydis played for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Summer Leagueand had some good games.
Detroit’s Derrick Walton Jr. goes down
Walton jr. a Detroit native, he played high school baseball at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods and then was a four-year starter at the University of Michigan.
Walton also got a chance to play for the Pistons when most of the roster had to sit out due to health protocols, and he did well, averaging 6.3 points and 7.0 assists. He also stood out for the Cruise, leading the G-League in assists.
However, with the selection of Jaden Ivey, Cory Joseph opting out of his contract and Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes still there, there was no way to turn the Pistons into a smaller point guard.
Instead of the NBA, Walton will be in the NBL, Australia’s top professional league, this season.
the kings of sydney announced that Walton has signed a contract to play for them.
In the press release announcing the signing, Kings coach Chase Buford discussed how excited he was to have Walton:
“Derrick is an NBA-caliber point guard that we are thrilled to add to our group for the upcoming season. He is an excellent scorer and shooter, and he really excels at creating for his teammates as a driver and playmaker from pick & roll actions. He is also a physical and athletic defender capable of frustrating opponents,” Buford said.
“More importantly, his character, attitude and competitiveness will fit perfectly with our core returning from last season and we envision Derrick as a strong leader within our group.”
Now why would the Mad Ants trade for a player who has signed a contract to play on the other side of the world? It’s not like he can travel to play for both of them.
What Fort Wayne received were Walton Jr.’s take-back rights, not, as in most trades, an actual contract. If Walton ever decides to return to America and wants to play in the G-League, he’ll have to be for the Mad Ants.
The same is true for Sirvydis as well as Keifer Sykes. (who could be the first basketball player in 64 years to go from Fort Wayne to Detroit). They are not insured to be in their respective new teams, but if they decide to return to the G-League, it has to be for those specific teams.
Sykes and Sirvydis played a bit in the NBA last season, so both would look to join a team there, preferably. But it is interesting to see that the Cruise, like its parent club, is not standing still. season.