Detroit Pistons Mock Offseason 2.0

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DETROIT, MI – APRIL 20: Ish Smith #14 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game Three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Free Agency

After the draft the Pistons signed their draft picks. The price for the 27th pick is predetermined to start at a little under $2 million. The contracts offered to second round draft picks can vary, but the Pistons decide to sign both of them for the minimum. This leaves the Pistons with about $14.7 million to sign Ish Smith and the best wing they can while staying under the tax.

Backup Point Guard

The Pistons have held onto Ish Smith’s $11.4 million cap hold with hopes of signing him to a deal with bird rights. Being an over-the cap team already, it isn’t helpful to wait to sign Smith unless it is a negotiating tactic. The Pistons aren’t willing to offer Ish Smith anything more than a two-year deal, and even then, they’d prefer to have control over that second year if one was offered.

Smith has found a niche in Detroit, and both would do well to come to an agreement. In trying to negotiate in good faith, the front office is able to come to an agreement with Smith that gives them control over his contract while giving him a slight bump in salary. Detroit re-signs Smith for two years for a total of $14 million with a team option for the second year. While the actual salary number increased by $1 million in this contract, it is a smaller percentage of the salary cap this year.

With $7 million going to Ish Smith, the Pistons have about $7.7 million to find a rotation piece at the wing.