The Detroit Pistons rewarded Eric Moreland for a tremendous Orlando Summer League performance with a three-year contract. Friday is a big day for that deal.
Eric Moreland had an impressive Orlando Summer League performance at just the right time. The Detroit Pistons needed a third center coming into the season, one they could sign to a minimum contract, and Moreland ended up earning himself that spot.
He averaged 7.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game in Orlando, and he was devastating in a small sample on the pick and roll. Moreland scored 20 points in 12 possessions as the roll man this summer.
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Both in summer league and last year with the Canton Charge, Moreland showed himself to be an elite shot blocker. This summer he had a remarkable block percentage of 9.2 percent, and last season against NBA D-League (now G League) competition he had a block percentage of 5.7 percent.
Moreland signed a three-year deal worth $5.478 million, and it can only be described as unguaranteed contract hell. Only an initial $500,000 of the contract was guaranteed at signing, and $750,000 becomes guaranteed at the end of business on Friday.
There are a number of remaining guarantee stages left on this contract, assuming he remains with the team through Friday (almost certainly, he will). $1 million becomes guaranteed when the season begins on October 14th, and the full first year salary of $1,739,333 becomes guaranteed on January 10th, the latest day a contract can be fully guaranteed.
Next season is similarly hellish for Moreland. Year two is unguaranteed until July 8th, 2018, a full week after free agency begins. At that point $750,000 becomes guaranteed, then $1.25 million becomes guaranteed on opening night of the 2018-19 season, and the full $1.826 million becomes guaranteed on January 10th, 2019.
The third and final year is unguaranteed until July 8th, 2019, once again a week after free agency begins. On that date, the full $1.913 million becomes guaranteed.
While Moreland is aware of this timeline for his contract, he’s not letting it affect his approach. “I’m not thinking about dates or how it’s structured, I’m just trying to go out and do what I do best.” He added, “Nothing’s going to change.”
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Once he gets through Friday, one hurdle will be out of the way as the 25-year-old big man endeavors to revive his NBA career.