Kay Felder could be a great fit with the Detroit Pistons next season. The Detroit native is still looking for his first big opportunity in the NBA.
Kay Felder has become a bit of a journeymen in his first couple of seasons in the NBA. The Detroit Pistons could be a great fit for him to get his first big opportunity as a pro.
The Detroit Pistons cycled through back-up point guards last season when Reggie Jackson went down with an injury. Ish Smith took on the starting role and then the carousel started.
Dwight Buycks played the role as back-up for some time. The Pistons then signed Jameer Nelson to help fill the void. Neither of them were efficient.
An NBA team needs a third point guard on their roster that can step up and be effective in case one of the others go down with an injury.
In the case of the Detroit Pistons, I believe it’s even more important as they continue to go with Jackson as the starter. He’s been injured in each of the past two seasons and missed an exponential amount of time.
They won’t exactly have a lot of money to spend on a back-up point guard either. The Pistons will exceed the NBA salary cap again next year and be close to the luxury tax line after filling out their roster.
Felder’s previous experience
Kay Felder is an excellent candidate for this position. He signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons in January after being waived by the Chicago Bulls.
Felder was an excellent point guard at the collegiate level. He averaged 24 points and nine assists per game at the university of Oakland, just a stone’s throw from Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit.
I don’t believe Felder has received the right opportunity at the NBA level just yet. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Felder in the second round of the 2016 draft.
Kyrie Irving and Matthew Dellavedova were already featured at the point guard position on the roster at the time. It’s easy to imagine that Felder never saw the floor.
Felder then bounced from Atlanta to Chicago. He got a lot of minutes in the G League over the past couple seasons.
He was a major contributor for the Grand Rapids Drive last season, the Detroit Pistons G League affiliate.
Felder averaged 16 points and nearly six assists per game with the Drive. He also pulled down nearly four rebounds a game at his 5-9, 176 lb frame. He did all of this in under 30 minutes a game.
Why Felder makes sense
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The Detroit Pistons could use a player like Felder on their roster. He leaves it all on the floor every night and still has a lot of room to grow as a player.
Felder is still just 23 years old.
Felder can shoot the ball and attack the rim well for his size. He’s an average defender and a great facilitator with the ball in his hands.
Ish Smith is entering the final year of his contract and will be turning 30 next season.
He will likely be looking for another contract worth $6 million a year or perhaps more.
If they can mold Felder and help him develop his skills, he might be able to take on the role as the back-up point guard in the right amount of time. Not to mention at a much cheaper price.
Signs point to giving the Detroit native a chance to grow with an organization that he grew up around. Kay Felder is a great fit for the Detroit Pistons.