Cory Joseph is returning to the Pistons: Is that good?

Cory Joseph is back: A yea or nay for Detroit Pistons?

It’s nice that Cory Joseph is happy, and pocketing $5.1 million to play basketball next season. Hey, the Pistons agreed to it, so can’t get mad at Joseph for doing something that was negotiated in good faith.

But this agreement was made back in July, 2021, and the Pistons are a different team now. Cade Cunningham was an unknown quantity, Jerami Grant was the acknowledged top player and Detroit was not going anywhere but the bottom of the standings.

However, there is one important thing to remember. Joseph is now guaranteed to be paid $5.1 million, but those checks do not have to be from Detroit. Joseph does not have a no-trade clause, so general manager Troy Weaver can use him, and his salary, as part of a trade.

That Joseph’s salary can be part of a trade or even a sign-and-trade (Deandre Ayton? Miles Bridges?) does not mean it will, but it does give Weaver some additional optionality.

For purposes of this story, let us say Joseph is not traded, and comes to Pistons training camp, here are the positives and negatives:

Positives of Cory Joseph coming back to Detroit Pistons

• He knows coach Dwane Casey’s system like the back of his hand. He can help the young players learn what they need to do.
• He can shoot a three-pointer, most of his teammates can’t. Outside of Joseph, the only regular to make over 35-percent of their three-point attempts was Jerami Grant (and just 35.8%).
• Providing veteran leadership and versatility. Joseph can play point and shooting guard, and he does a decent enough job at both. Weaver has emphasized having veterans of high character on the team, and Joseph fits that to a ‘T’.

Negatives of Cory Joseph coming back to Detroit Pistons

• The guy is 31, why is a player who is not on the timeline of the Pistons core, taking playing time away from young, promising players.
• If he had turned down the option, it would have given Detroit an additional $5.1 million of salary cap space. Who knows what they could have done with the additional space.
• Joseph is the kind of player that is a  good depth piece for a championship contender. He would be helpful for a Milwaukee or a Boston. Being on Detroit seems a bit pointless.

There are certainly a lot of positives to Cory Joseph returning. He is a good guy and a pretty good player since he came to the Motor City. But if the Pistons draft a guard, like Jaden Ivey or Bennedict Mathurin, his playing time could be effected.

But, as we have said several times, this was Joseph’s choice, and Detroit allowed him to make it.