The Detroit Pistons enter Sunday night with the second-most cap space, behind only the big-money-seeking Philadelphia 76ers.
There aren’t many other teams swimming in cap space, which puts the Pistons in a rare position of flexibility to serve as a dumping ground for unwanted salaries in exchange for Draft capital and/or attempt to attract some mid- to low-tier free agents by outbidding other cash-strapped teams.
The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, signed a year ago, restricts big-spending teams with numerous salary caps. As a result, the Pistons have already completed two salary deals: They moved up 16 spots in the second round on Thursday in exchange for Wendell Moore Jr., and on Friday they received three future second-round picks for acquiring Tim Hardaway’s overvalued contract. Jr. and send back Quentin Grimes.
With that in mind, here are some Pistons predictions for free agency, the first under new president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon:
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Detroit Pistons free agency predictions
- Simone Fontecchio re-signs: The Pistons offered Fontecchio their $5.2 million on Saturday. qualified offera procedural formality that officially makes him a restricted free agent. This allows the Pistons to match any offer from another team that signs. Although Fontecchio was acquired in February with the 31st pick and Gabriele Procida by the previous regime, led by Troy Weaver, he proved to be a solid addition to a Pistons team desperate for any semblance of a two-way forward. He shot 40.1% from 3-point range last season in 66 games between Utah and the Pistons. Any deal around $15 million per year for three or four years is reasonable.
- Don’t splurge on Tobias Harris or any other big name over 30: Just because the Pistons have money to spend doesn’t mean they should throw a gigantic bag at anyone who will take it, especially if that player is on the downside of his career. It would be a big mistake to take a long-term salary in a trade, like Portland’s Jerami Grant (four years, $132 million), or give a mammoth three-year, $75 million contract to a “big name.” Like Tobias. Harris. The Pistons should focus on short-term money in any veteran trade, as they did in taking on Hardaway’s expiring $16 million salary, or aim lower for a role player like New Orleans forward Naji Marshall, who has a lot of familiarity with Langdon, or a low-cost center like Goga Bitadze (for defense) or Moritz Wagner (for shooting). In his introductory press conference, Langdon said the Pistons wouldn’t “skip steps”; Let’s see if that’s true in his free agency as a leading decision maker.
- Add more shots: The Pistons once again put aside three-point shooting when they signed Holland. They must surround Cade Cunningham with a three-point threat. He’s currently surrounded by several non-shooters like Holland, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren or those who don’t scare the defense (Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart). The Pistons should look closely at Malik Beasley, Buddy Hield or Gary Harris, or go further down the free agent list to Luke Kennard or Seth Curry. A one-year overpayment could be enough for any of the above, but a two-year lump sum with a team option for the second year (as Indiana did with Bruce Brown Jr. last summer) would give the Pistons or another team additional flexibility in a future exchange.
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When does NBA free agency start?
Free agency begins Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET, with negotiations allowed between teams and all future free agents. Deals can officially be signed beginning Saturday at 12:01 p.m.
The top free agent is Paul George, with plenty of solid starters and depth pieces on the market, including James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Detroit Pistons free agents 2024
The Pistons have several free agents, both restricted and unrestricted.
- Simone Fontecchio, restricted (Pistons can match any offer from another team)
- Chimezie Metu, without restrictions
- Evan Fournier, without restrictions
- James Wiseman, no restrictions
- Jared Rhoden, no restrictions
- Jaylen Nowell, no restrictions
- Malachi Flynn, no restrictions
- Stanley Umude, no restrictions
- Taj Gibson, no restrictions
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