The Detroit Pistons do not have a rich history in free agency but it’s interesting to look back and see how some of their current players might stack up.
Part of the reason for this is that Detroit has never been hot free-agent destination. Even though Detroit is a cool city that is rich in culture, it is bitter cold and not on one of the coasts, so free agents have never lined up to play in the Motor City.
The Pistons have always built their teams through the draft and savvy trades, such as when they selected Tayshaun Prince with the 23rd pick or made one of the best trades of all-time for Rasheed Wallace.
This is still the strategy, though the Detroit Pistons currently have a player in Jerami Grant who chose Detroit willingly even though the contender Nuggets offered him the same amount of money.
Detroit will still likely never be the first choice of players looking for new homes but the Pistons have made the most of the guys who they were able to get in free agency.
Here are the top-3 Detroit Pistons’ free agent pick-ups of all time.
Detroit Pistons: Antonio McDyess was a free-agent steal
Antonio McDyess fits the profile of the type of free agent the Pistons usually get, which is guys who need a fresh start after injuries or a bad run with a different team.
Josh Jackson is trying to be the next Piston to fit this role, but McDyess was one of the original “scrap heap” free agents who turned his career around in Detroit.
The Pistons signed McDyess before the 2004-2005 season for the mid-level exception and he ended up being a key cog in their championship runs.
Fans will remember McDyess as a quality defender who could knock down that top-of-the-key shot all day.
No one shot 3-pointers back then and McDyess is one of those guys who would probably thrive even more in today’s game as a 3-and-D wing with his size.
Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant has been the free-agent steal of the offseason
When the Detroit Pistons signed Jerami Grant to a $20 million per year contract a lot of fans thought, “here we go again, the Pistons overpaying a role player to come to Detroit.”
How are those fans feeling now?
Grant has broken out this season in an expanded role and is in or near the top-five in practically every statistical category for small forwards.
He defends all over the floor, can score from anywhere, and is making Troy Weaver look like a genius by making him his primary focus in free agency.
You might say that half a season isn’t enough to put him on this list, but have you seen the list? It’s pretty grim, especially in recent history.
Grant’s individual success has not led to much team success so far but that is only if you measure success in wins and losses.
The Detroit Pistons are a rebuilding team looking to instill a new culture in a franchise that has been terrible for over decade.
Grant’s blue-collar work ethic and DESIRE TO BE IN DETROIT are changing that culture before our eyes and he is showing rookies like Saddiq Bey how to play the game the right way.
It’s only been half a season but the Jerami Grant story has been one of the biggest surprises of the NBA this year and it is enough to put him on this list, especially considering he’s up against guys like Terry Mills and Ben Gordon.
Detroit Pistons: Chauncey Billups is the Pistons’ best free agent
This was an easy choice and it wasn’t even close.
The Detroit Pistons signed Chauncey Billups as a free agent in 2002 to a 5 year/$35 million contract that ended up being the biggest bargain in team history.
Billups helped breathe life into the Pistons and ended up being the heart and soul of a team that had the most sustained success in franchise history.
Beloved by the fans for his tough and smart play, Billups is now considered one of the greatest Pistons of all time and a guy who will always get a standing ovation in Detroit.
Billups not only led the team to a championship against the hated Lakers in 2004, but won the Finals MVP and made All-Star, All-Defense and All-NBA for Detroit in his time with the team.
Chauncey Billups not only goes down as the best free-agent signing for the Detroit Pistons but one of their all-time best players, with an argument to make the All-Time starting five.
The Detroit Pistons don’t get many top free agents so this list isn’t very long, but Jerami Grant is hoping to start a new tradition where free agents choose to be in the Motor City and thrive once they are there.