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What Can the Detroit Pistons Do in Free Agency?

By Richard Davisson

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 25: Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the Phoenix Suns at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 25, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 25: Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the Phoenix Suns at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 25, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 09: Tomas Satoransky #31 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against the Boston Celtics in the first half at Capital One Arena on April 09, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 09: Tomas Satoransky #31 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against the Boston Celtics in the first half at Capital One Arena on April 09, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Option 1: Use the full MLE on a Point guard

The Pistons need to target a point guard in free agency. Being $13.3 million away from the luxury tax line, spending the full MLE on a point guard would leave you with only minimum exceptions to use on the rest of the free agents. However, a backup point guard is the primary need for Detroit in free agency.

While some of the following players may wind up out of the Pistons’ price range, these are potential players to target with the $9.246 million.

  • Cory Joseph: While he is more of a defender than a scorer or much of a shooter, he has experience with Dwane Casey from his time in Toronto, where he had his best offensive years. He has been reliable, playing 79 games or more for the past five years.
  • Tomas Satoransky: A restricted free agent who has experience stepping in for oft-injured John Wall could be a good fit considering the injury-history of Reggie Jackson (who was surprisingly able to put together a full 82-game season). Having a backup who’s had that experience could be valuable.
  • Derrick Rose: After a bounce-back year, he could be an option to run the second unit with his shot creation. Perhaps having a scorer on that unit could allow for Luke Kennard to move to his ideal spot in the starting lineup.
  • Seth Curry: The full MLE is probably too rich for him, but if the Pistons desperately prioritize shooting from their backup point guard, perhaps they will overlook his lack of defense and off-guard style.

Perhaps the Pistons could go after Tomas Satoransky, a restricted free agent with the Washington Wizards. The Wizards are a team that will struggle to put together a roster because of John Wall’s crippling cap hit and absence because of injury. I don’t think that this is a team that will want to be pushed toward the tax, so they may not match an offer sheet if we were to extend one to Satoransky. The Pistons are able to get their backup point guard for $29 million over three years.

The next player that is needed is a backup big for the minimum. More than likely this transaction will take place after the dust of free agency has settled. Potential guys who may be on the outside looking in at that point could be players like JaVale McGee, Joakim Noah, Greg Monroe, and Eric Moreland. Guys like Richaun Holmes and Kyle O’Quinn could possibly be available, but it is more likely that the Pistons will find those guys to be a little out of their reach.

If the Pistons decide to use their full MLE on a ball handler or a wing, this is the tier of big men the Pistons are looking at. Let’s say Detroit gets lucky and brings in O’Quinn with a one year deal at the veteran minimum.

With money for only one more minimum deal, the Pistons turn to add another wing. Similarly to the minimum big men, the Pistons will have to select from whoever remains late in free agency. Some possible names that the Pistons could decide between are Darius Miller, Thabo Sefolosha, and Nik Stauskas.

Bringing in any of those guys wouldn’t bring too much excitement to anyone in Detroit except for University of Michigan fans. So let’s bring in Stauskas on a one year deal for the minimum to make them happy.

Reflection

The Pistons have signed Tomas Satoransky for the MLE as well as Kyle O’Quinn and Nik Stauskas for veteran minimum contracts. This pushes the Pistons to having 14 players on the books for next season but without enough space to add a 15th guy as well as hard-capping the roster. Not getting to 15 isn’t that big of a deal because having the two-way contracts of Jordan Bone and Louis King allow them to spend some time on the roster if needed. But unless the Pistons make a trade, utilizing the entire MLE on one player limits the roster to 14 guys.