The Detroit Pistons will have some cap space to use this offseason and will take a hard look at unrestricted free-agent guard Jalen Brunson, one of four potential targets who are playing well in the playoffs right now.
Brunson has had a breakout season, capped off last night by a career-high 41 points in the Mavericks’ game two win over the Utah Jazz.
Brunson has stepped up in the absence of Luka Doncic and led Dallas in scoring so far in the playoffs.
He’d be a nice fit with Cade Cunningham as a tough guard who can play on or off the ball, and Brunson is showing that he may have another level.
Jalen Brunson and Kyle Lowry
Brunson averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds for the Mavericks this season while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range on 3.2 attempts per game.
Brunson shoots 54 percent from 2-point range and is adept at getting into the paint to finish with floaters and runners. Though not an elite one-on-one defender, he’s a tough, two-way player who puts in the effort on that end.
He’s still just 25-years-old, so the Detroit Pistons would sign him hoping that he can continue to improve as he has every season of his career so far.
To be worth the max (or near max) contract it will likely take to get him, the Pistons would have to believe that Brunson has All-Star potential.
After putting up 41 points in a playoff game (against a very good defensive team) it appears that he does, and that next level might be Kyle Lowry.
Brunson actually has plenty in common with the six-time All-Star and could be that type of player for the Detroit Pistons.