Detroit Pistons: 5 reasons Rodney McGruder is back

The Detroit Pistons do not have many open roster spots, yet they signed little-used guard Rodney McGruder to a guaranteed contract. They had their reasons for doing so.

When general manager Troy Weaver says he wanted most of last year’s team back, and then proceeds to draft four players and sign two free agents, it is no surprise that roster spots are at a premium.

Most Pistons fans figured at the end of the 2020-21 season, they had seen the last of guard Rodney McGruder.

He only played in 16 games for Detroit, averaging 5.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 12 minutes a game. The Pistons went 20-52, so it was not exactly a super team that McGruder could not find time on.

He also turned 30 in July, so the 6-foot-4 McGruder is not part of any young core.

With the drafting Cade Cunningham at No. 1, re-signing point guards Cory Joseph and Saben Lee, plus a healthy Killian Hayes, the No. 7 overall pick last year, there really seemed to be no need to bring McGruder back, for what would seem to be another year of getting splinters on the bench,

And yet, the news broke on August 12:

https://twitter.com/DetroitPistons/status/1425847058532028422

So, the pressing question is: Why?

At the end of the season, general manager Troy Weaver talked about why he wanted to run it back, despite having a 20-52 record.:

"“I don’t anticipate having too many roster spots available,” he said. “We like our group and are excited about the guys under contract and even our own free agents. I don’t anticipate much turnover at all. I would say maybe one or two additions from outside, but the assets from the Pistons moving forward are all in house. It’s internal development and growth and that will be our focus this summer.”"

Even reporters who follow the Pistons day in and day out were surprised.

We all pretty much know the reasons why McGruder should not be coming back to the Pistons. So lets go over the thought process of Weaver (and coach Dwane Casey) to their wanting to re-sign McGruder.

5 Reasons the Detroit Pistons are bringing back Rodney McGruder

1. Great Locker room presence: Behind the scenes, McGruder was a great resource for young guards like Killian Hayes and Saben Lee. With a very important young guard in Cade Cunningham joining the team, having a 5-year vet like McGruder there to mentor will come in handy.
2. Versatility in the backcourt: McGruder usually plays off-guard but. when injuries depleted the Pistons at point guard, McGruder swung over to play ‘1’. In his final appearance for the season, on March 26 against the powerful Brooklyn Nets, McGruder started at point guard and was a +3 in the game, and scored seven points in a two-point loss.
3. Can handle playing rusty: Because he is a veteran, McGruder can sit on the bench for long stretches of time and, when needed, scrape off the rust and contribute. After barely playing most of the season, McGruder in a five-game stretch in early March averaged 12 points a game. He would play just one more game (vs. the Nets, where he started) the rest of the season.
4. Cheap, cheap: It is not like McGruder held the Pistons hostage demanding big money. He was suppose to be be paid $5 million this season but it was non-guaranteed, and Detroit declined the option. Instead, McGruder signed a deal to pay him the veteran minimum, $2,130,023, which is fully guaranteed for one season. He is literally being paid as little as possible.
5. Great trade chip: You know Troy Weaver will still be making moves, and you don’t want to make moves involving promising young players (see Middleton, Khris on how that goes). Having a veteran, who is high character, on a good contract and can play both guard positions, is certainly someone of value to be thrown in on a trade. It gives Detroit another option if it puts together a deal in the future without hurting its young core.

There are conspiracy theorists who think Weaver is doing McGruder a solid because he grew up with his father. Anyone who knows how serious Weaver is about rebuilding, throws cold water on that.

But, considering McGruder will be the 15th guy on the roster for the second year in a row, there has certainly been a lot of passion, on both sides, on his coming back to the Motor City. It shows how much people really care about the team.