Detroit Pistons: 3 power forwards that Troy Weaver shouldn’t pursue
The free agent market will play a major role for the Detroit Pistons. Troy Weaver’s vision for phase two of the restoration is finally coming to fruition. He’s accumulated enough young talent, now finding the veterans that complement the pieces is essential.
The team has positioned themselves to make improvements with their cap space, and the power forward spot will be one of the most important positions to upgrade. Although a team may have the money to spend, bringing in the right guy proves to be a more difficult task.
There’s no proven formula when acquiring talent. You can’t predict chemistry and making the right decision can be “hit or miss” in some instances. Far too often small market teams may pay more for a players name than their actual game and avoiding that this offseason should be Troy’s main focus.
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With the Detroit Pistons poised to make a splash, we’ve narrowed down a list of power forwards who should not be on the franchise’s radar.
Detroit Pistons: Free agents Troy Weaver should not pursue
Kristaps Porzingis
Most fans remember the days when Kristaps Porzingis was considered a basketball unicorn. His versatile skill set mixed with his size, surprisingly made him the fourth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, selected by the New York Knicks.
This season he played the most games since his second year in the league, suiting up in 65 games for the Washington Wizards. He also boasted his best scoring output of his career with 23.2 points along with 8.4 rebounds. Those statistics set a career high in points, and his fourth best rebounding numbers of his career, making this offseason a great time to not exercise his player option and opt out of his 31.6 million dollar deal. Porzingis is looking for security in the form of a long-term contract, this could be his last opportunity to cash in big.
It’s hard to imagine him not being a hot commodity when it’s time to sign this summer. The numbers would justify a lucrative deal, however the chances are slim he’ll duplicate the statistics in his next contract. Troy Weaver and the Detroit Pistons’ front office should stay clear of him, especially while seeking a multi-year contract.
Spending money on a injury-prone power forward could set the organization back. The idea is to maintain flexibility while establishing a winning culture. It’s just too much of a gamble to risk, especially when talking max deals.
It’s all about his health not his game; however, the best ability is availability. Porzingis would need to show he can stay on the floor before Troy Weaver decides on opening his checkbook. Giving a long-term deal to player who hasn’t been healthy for the better portion of his career, that’s a tough no. The front office may consider Porzingis at first, but I doubt any deal will be done. Staying disciplined and sticking to the plan even with a big fish available, that’s how you avoid the mistakes from past regimes.