Detroit Pistons: 3 free agent targets for center depth
After months of speculation that they would be mostly inactive during the free agency period this offseason, the Detroit Pistons have cleared up some cap space to make a few signings.
On draft day, Pistons GM Troy Weaver sent center Mason Plumlee to the Charlotte Hornets in a trade that saw the teams swap second-round picks. Weaver cleared more cap space after the team cut Cory Joseph, Tyler Cook, and Deividas, Sirvydis.
With more cap flexibility heading into the start of free agency, Weaver and the Detroit Pistons are poised to make some moves with the roster.
Detroit still has limited cap space entering free agency. Blake Griffin’s contract is still on the books for next season, so the team is unlikely to make any big signings. All signs point to small additions to help round out the roster and add depth to positions of need.
Much of the team’s cap could be used to re-sign both Hamidou Diallo and Frank Jackson to contract extensions, but there should still be some money left over to address backup center.
Detroit Pistons: NBA free agent centers
Rumors indicate that Weaver will use some of the remaining cap space to add another center to the roster.
Currently, Detroit has the rights to four centers heading into the free agency period. Both Isaiah Stewart and Jahlil Okafor are under contract heading into next season, and after the draft, the Pistons have found themselves with the rights to former Iowa Hawkeye Luka Garza and former Florida State Seminole Balsa Koprivica.
At first glance, it appears Detroit has no need to add another center to the mix, but there are serious questions about the quality of depth they have behind Stewart.
As second-round rookies entering the league, Garza and Koprivica will need time to develop into quality NBA centers. The two rookie centers are most likely going to receive two-way contracts with Detroit, and the two centers will also likely spend the majority of their time in with the Motor City Cruise.
That leaves Okafor to be slated as Stewart’s backup heading into the 2021-22 season, not a great outlook. Okafor peaked in his rookie season in the NBA. The 25-year-old has seen his numbers decline since his rookie season.
Okafor is not a good defender. The 6-10 big man is not a rim protector, and he lacks the lateral quickness to hold his own against opposing bigs and wings.
The big man is best suited as a third-string center rather than a true backup. With Okafor’s serious limitations as a backup center and the rookies likely destined to spend the majority of time in the G-League, rumors of Detroit’s interest in adding center depth makes sense.
Here are three free-agent centers the Detroit Pistons could look to target without breaking the bank on a contract.