Detroit Pistons: TJ Warren, Unrestricted Free Agent
The Detroit Pistons are already a solid defensive team, and defense wins championships so they can never have enough. But you also need to be able to score. If only there were a player who could sign anywhere, was very affordable, and scored 17 points with good defense. Enter TJ Warren.
Warren only makes 12 million dollars a year, so the Pistons could slightly overbid to ensure he’d come to the Motor City.
Warren is an offensive weapon who would thrive as the second option behind Cade, which would again elevate Grant’s game. He is comfortable putting the ball on the floor or waiting in the corner to hit a three. While Warren is not an All-NBA talent, he is the Swiss Army knife that every team needs to add a little bit of pop. Warren’s claim to fame was dominating the NBA Orlando Bubble two seasons ago, and he is tried and true in the playoffs but still hungry for a championship. The Detroit Pistons are working their way back to playoff glory, and who better than someone who has done exactly that before? Additionally, even if the Pistons shell out for Warren they would still have enough money to make real offers at solid role players who could make the bench even better than it is.
I’d imagine Warren and Grant as the combined second option once Cade comes into his own. Both would still handle the ball plenty, but they could be the muscle in the offense rather than the primary creators. It would give Cade the opportunity to take over at point guard, and Hayes could lead the bench unit at Bey and Warren play combo guard/forward with Grant and Stewart down low or in the post. The starting lineup’s average heigh would be 6-foot-8, and with Cade being the shortest player out there the team would be a brute to defend. Almost everyone can shoot, and everyone can defend, so if a well-rounded lineup is what you want then Warren is your guy.