Detroit Pistons free agency: Anthony Tolliver would make sense

Anthony Tolliver was given his release by the Sacramento Kings on June 2nd, making him a free agent. Should the Detroit Pistons try to sign him?

Former Detroit Pistons‘ forward Anthony Tolliver was the recipient of one of the most “It’s just business” calls in recent memory in early June. On the morning of June 2nd, he turned 32. Later that day, his team, the Sacramento Kings, released him.

While this sounds cold-blooded, it was a move that Tolliver was probably aware was coming, and it could prove to make him more money in the long run. This was the final season of a two-year $16 million deal he signed last summer with the Kings, and he was due $8 million this season. June 2nd was his guarantee date, which means that if the Kings released him before the end of business on June 2nd, only $2 million of that $8 million would be guaranteed.

So Tolliver locked up $2 million, the Kings saved $6 million, and now he hits the open market with the opportunity to get a multi-year deal at the age of 32 rather than 33. Even if he doesn’t recoup all of that money this year, this probably works out well long-term for the Pistons’ fan favorite.

While Tolliver could play a role on almost any team, the Pistons may need him more than most. This past season, the young Pistons team was often rudderless, having no veteran leadership to speak of in the locker room. Tolliver, Ersan Ilyasova and Joel Anthony were all out, replaced by only Beno Udrih to give the youngsters a veteran voice. The Pistons learned the folly of this decision the hard way.

More from PistonPowered

Tolliver was also a reliable shooter who could play either small forward or power forward. The Pistons are lacking in players who can do that, with only Tobias Harris providing that kind of versatility at the forward spot (and his versatility ended up being miscast in a bench role). Also notably, the Pistons are in desperate need of reliable shooters.

Last season with the Kings, Tolliver hit 39.1 percent of his threes. That rate would have been by far the best on the Pistons roster. He was in the 82nd percentile in spot-up shooting, scoring 1.132 points per possession. 215 of Tolliver’s 351 shots last season came in spot-up situations and 65.5 percent of his field goal attempts were three-pointers.

Tolliver could play alongside either Marcus Morris, Tobias Harris or Jon Leuer in various configurations and might even make the most sense starting alongside Harris and Drummond in the front court. The lineup of Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Harris, Tolliver and Drummond only played three total possessions two years ago, but might be the most logical combo after the various starting lineup blunders last season.

Tolliver has never been a regular starter in his NBA career, but he would be a rebounding upgrade and a shooting upgrade over Marcus Morris, who would still play significant minutes off the bench.

Next: Luke Kennard could have immediate impact for the Pistons

While the Detroit Pistons have no cap space and no path to gaining any, Tolliver could be signed for up to the mid-level exception, which this season is worth about $8.4 million. Considering Tolliver would likely not fetch the entire MLE, they could also use their bi-annual exception, worth just under $3.3 million.

Anthony Tolliver would make sense for the Pistons

By Duncan Smith | Jun 25, 2017

Anthony Tolliver was given his release by the Sacramento Kings on June 2nd, making him a free agent. Should the Detroit Pistons try to sign him?

More from PistonPowered