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Detroit Pistons have lots of room to sign free agents, but should they bother?

By Stuart London

Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons is guarded by Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons is guarded by Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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Malik Monk, Detroit Pistons
Malik Monk, Detroit Pistons /

Los Angeles Lakers guard Malik Monk (11). Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Pistons options in unrestricted free agency

Signing an unrestricted free agent is quick and easy. Offer them lots of money, they sign the contract, and they are on your team. No fuss, no muss.

The problem is, the UFA class really stinks. It is particularly bad for a team like Detroit, which is looking for young talent.  Andre Iguodala might help a team looking to make a run for the NBA finals, but he does nothing for a rebuilding club.

Looking at the players 25-years-old or younger, a few names do stand out as being helpful to Detroit, but no game-changing stars:

  • Malik Monk: He is lighting it up currently for the Lakers. A microwave scorer ala’ Vinnie Johnson (we are not saying he is as good, just the same type of player). On an offense-starved team like the Pistons, he would help.
  • Mitchell Robinson: A young rim protector who is coming along offensively. It is a mystery why the Knicks did not lock him up, but the Pistons can be expected to have interest.

Related Story. Pistons looking at Mitchell Robinson for future center?. light

  • Jalen Brunson: He is doing very well for the Mavericks, another player it is surprising his current team did not sign long-term. He and Cade Cunningham would make a nice backcourt. Both are smart players who can handle, pass and score.
  • Josh Jackson: Hey, he is an unrestricted free agent too. He looks so good sometimes, and other times you forget he is in the game. Has great physical gifts, but shooting is still a problem (he is bad) and has not yet figured out how to score on cuts to the basket, like his fellow athletic wing, Hamidou Diallo has.

There are others, like center Thomas Bryant and guard Derrick Jones Jr., who might interest the Pistons, but it is not a deep free agent class, or even that great on the top.

Detroit might be better off balling up all its money and throwing it at a restricted free agent. If you do not get the player, at least you cripple a rival team of its available cap space. The players available there are much better.