Why was Adrian Dantley traded in '89?

[iamgine]

In the middle of a very successful season, Detroit Pistons traded their top scorer who was beloved by teammates. I find that rather strange.

Who followed the Pistons back then? I've heard conflicting reports. What was the real reason behind it?

[1987_Lakers]

He was jealous about the fact that players looked at Isiah as the leader and not him, he also famously feuded with Chuck Daly.

I remember in the 30 for 30 doc, One reporter stated he saw Dantley and Daly get in such a heated argument, that it made him uncomfortable to the point where he had to look away.

In other words, he was a cancer. He also couldn't fit in with the Lakers when they had a peak Kareem.

[L.Kizzle]

He was better than Aguirre tho, Aguirre just fit right in tho.
Pistons should have won in 88.

I wasn't around back then but that was considered a big time trade (I'm assuming.)

[1987_Lakers]

[John8204]

It was a better deal...also Dallas...bad calls during that period of time

Mark Price - Jeff Hodge
Mark Aguirre - Adrian Dantley
Detlef Schrempt - Herb Williams

[Xiao Yao You]

Aguirre was Isiah's buddy

[Kawhi_Why_Not]

He likes to iso a lot and doesn't play much defense. He was like the Westbrook of his era, great stats but can't win and no stars want to play with him.

[John8204]

He was better than Aguirre tho, Aguirre just fit right in tho.
Pistons should have won in 88.

I wasn't around back then but that was considered a big time trade (I'm assuming.)

Aquirre was a top ten shooter though some seasons top five and he was four years younger.

[TheGoatest]

Weird that the Pistons would trade him even though they made the finals and were one call in their favor from winning the championship.
It's like they weren't worried about anyone in the east to such an extent that they felt they could trade their leading scorer from 1987-88, just so they could get over the hump against the western conference champions.

[pandiani17]

He was jealous about the fact that players looked at Isiah as the leader and not him, he also famously feuded with Chuck Daly.

I remember in the 30 for 30 doc, One reporter stated he saw Dantley and Daly get in such a heated argument, that it made him uncomfortable to the point where he had to look away.

In other words, he was a cancer. He also couldn't fit in with the Lakers when they had a peak Kareem.

Best answer. He didn't get along with his teammates, therefore the team chemistry was suffering. Aguirre, on the other hand, though being a headcase in Dallas was Isiah Thomas' childhood friend and the team's flow offensively didn't stall with him, as it was often the case with AD.