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Five Transactions that Explain the Current Detroit Pistons

By Sean Murphy

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Luke Kennard smiles with Adam Silver after being the 11th overall selected by the Detroit Pistons at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Luke Kennard smiles with Adam Silver after being the 11th overall selected by the Detroit Pistons at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Josh Smith
Josh Smith #6 of the Detroit Pistons(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images /

2. The Detroit Pistons sign Josh Smith to a 4 year $54 million contract

In the summer of 2013, The Detroit Pistons were desperate to add talent in any way that they could, and they were looking to do just that in the free agent market. With Chris Paul and Dwight Howard looking like virtual locks to go elsewhere, the Pistons made a hard run at free agent forward Josh Smith.

Smith was regarded as one of the top free agents in the summer of 2013, and the Pistons had a plan to go against the rest of the NBA. Detroit saw the potential of starting Smith alongside Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, creating potential big man dominance between the three stifling towers.

Also. Ben Wallace deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. light

The problem, however, is the Pistons went all in on big men when the NBA was quickly becoming about the three point shot. Smith was not a good fit alongside Monroe and Drummond, as they couldn’t spread the floor if their lives depended on it.

The Pistons cut Josh Smith after 28 games into his second season in Detroit, and that move saw the money owed to Josh Smith stretched out over a longer period of time.

The Josh Smith contract is coming off the books after the 2019-2020 season, even though he had not been on the roster for four years.

This move limited the Pistons cap room to sign other players in free agency, and showed the apparent flaws of Joe Dumars as the Pistons executive.

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