Pistons: Which end-of-the-bench guys made a case for a roster spot?
The Detroit Pistons only won 23 games and were tanking down the stretch, so they got plenty of chances to audition players for the back of the bench.
Detroit already has 11 players locked into the roster next season, not including Marvin Bagley III (who they will likely re-sign), so competition is going to be fierce for those final spots.
The Pistons will be adding at least one lottery pick, have a pick in the middle of the second round and will have some cap space to add free agents, so it won’t be easy for any of their current end-of-the-bench guys to keep their spots.
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There are six guys who represented the “end of the bench” this season, and all of them bring different skills to the table. So will any of these guys make the roster next season?
Detroit Pistons: We’ve probably seen the last of them
Rodney McGruder
McGruder played well when called upon, but as a 30-year-old on an expiring contract, it’s hard to see the Pistons bringing him back, or him wanting to come back after he played sparingly and the team tried to trade him twice.
McGruder shot nearly 40 percent from long range, so I imagine some contender will snatch him up for bench depth. Good luck to you, Rodney!
Luka Garza
The Pistons have a $1.5 million option on Garza for next season and it’s hard to imagine they will exercise it even though he did show some things and is a fan favorite. The Pistons need big-man depth, as they were undersized all season and Garza has not proven that he can be the third center they need.
I can definitely see the Pistons drafting another big man to replace Garza as the third center, or grabbing one in free agency (either a starter or someone for the bench) that would leave Luka without a job.
Detroit needs to upgrade their talent and depth at center and Garza is the most likely to be cut. I could see him signing a two-way deal to stay in Detroit (if they have one), but I can’t imagine the Pistons exercising his team option that would guarantee him a roster spot.