Where have all the free agent ex-Detroit Pistons gone? Long time waiting
Training camp is less than a month away, and most NBA teams (except in Philadelphia) have pretty much finalized their plans. However, there are still a bunch of experienced players without a camp invite, a number of them former Detroit Pistons.
This is the ‘quiet’ period of the NBA. The Summer League is over and the next official NBA activity is opening of training camps on September 28.
This is the time where you get photos on Instagram or Twitter of your favorite player at some cool vacation site, showing up at community events (unless your agent bans you from attending) or visiting friends and relatives, before the real season begins.
However, there is a group of players who are not kicking back and relaxing: the unsigned free agents.
According to RealGM, there are actually over 100 players who played in the NBA last season, that do not have a contract for next season.
Some of them are former Detroit Pistons. Since Pistons fans are very loyal to players, here are a rundown of some of the more significant names still on the market.
Notable former Detroit Pistons who are still NBA free agents
(by alphabetical order)
The big man from Down Under played for the Pistons from 2015-17. He then moved to the Boston Celtics, where he helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals.
A burly 6-11 center who learned to hit three-pointers, Baynes has been a solid role player. He started 31 games for Toronto last season but only averaged 6.5 points. He will be 35-years-old when the season, so we will see if an NBA team is looking for a veteran big.
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He had a heckuva 40 games for Detroit. Coming over from Boston as part of the Marcus Morris trade for the 2017-18 season, the 6-foot-3 guard instantly became a starter for coach Stan Van Gundy. He was a great defensive player but he showed with the Pistons he could also shoot, averaging 15.0 points and making 38.1-percent of his threes.
Bradley was traded on January 29, 2018 as part of the Blake Griffin deal. He played for Houston and Miami last season, averaging 6.4 points. Soon to turn 31, Bradley would be a nice reserve for a contending team.
Yes, to the surprise of what I am sure is many Pistons fans, Detroit’s first-round pick in 2016 (18th overall), was in the NBA last year. It was only for two games for Toronto, but he did average 7.5 points.
As most Detroit fans know, two spots after Ellenson (3.8 points in three seasons with the Pistons) was selected, the Pacers took Michigan star Caris LeVert (14.1 points average).
Speaking of first-round draft picks that did not work out…
Stanley Johnson was the eighth pick in the 2015 draft. As most Pistons fans know, five picks later, Grand Rapids native Devin Booker was selected by Phoenix. A rugged forward, Johnson played three-and-a-half years with the Pistons, averaging a non-descript 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds (Booker, very descript career)..
Johnson has played the past couple of seasons with Toronto. There are reports the Nets are looking at him. Durant, Irving, Harden and Johnson, why not?
The son of the ‘Big Dog’ and a good player in his own right in college at Michigan, Robinson took a while to get his stride in the NBA. He played the 2018-19 season for Detroit, appearing in just 47 games and averaging 4.2 points.
But he then went to Golden State and blossomed, scoring 12.9 points, was 40% on threes and was their top defensive player, albeit on an injury-ravaged team. He was traded to the 76ers to help their playoff run.
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Yet, after such a solid season, Robinson only lasted two months with the Sacramento Kings last year, appearing in 23 games, before being released. He averaged 5.3 points but still shot well from three (36.1%) for Sacramento, so he is certainly a player for a team to take a chance on.
After coming over from the Knicks last season, as part of the Derrick Rose trade, Smith had some nice moments with the Pistons, before injuries prematurely ended his season. He averaged 7.3 points and 3.7 assists in 20 games for Detroit.
If the Pistons needed help at point guard, they might have considered bringing him back. Smith will be only just turning 24-years-old early in the season. However, besides returning point guards Killian Hayes and Saben Lee, Detroit drafted some guy named Cade Cunningham, who can also play the point.
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Hey, a former player who most Pistons fans probably have fond memories of. Tolliver had two tours with Detroit (Dec. 2014-2016, 2017-18) and was a solid reserve forward. The 6-foot-8 Creighton product was the blue-collar type Detroit likes.
Tolliver was also a good three-point shooter, making 39.2-percent of his three-point attempts with Detroit. He was recently released by the 76ers, so the 36-year-old just got on the free agent market.
If, for some reason, the Pistons had a need for a veteran forward, a third time with Tolliver would not be a bad choice.
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Just because a player is signed late, does not mean they can not be a contributor. Last year, Wayne Ellington was added to the Pistons roster just two days before the start of training camp. He ended up starting 31 of the 43 games he played, and led the team in three-point percentage at 42.2-percent.