Detroit Pistons: Potential free-agent fallout from each playoff series
New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat
Miami hopes to finish this series off in game 6 so that they don’t have to return to Madison Square Garden for a game 7 on the road.
The Knicks’ biggest potential free agent is Josh Hart, who has a player option but has played well enough with New York that he’ll likely decline it and get a big raise. Hart has been a nice fit with the Knicks, so it’s likely he stays, but if he hits the market, he’d potentially be a great addition for the Detroit Pistons, who need tough and versatile defenders. It’s doubtful the results of this playoff series will affect Hart’s free agency one way or another.
Max Strus will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and has already raised his value by being a starter for the Heat in their playoff run. If the Heat were to make the Eastern Conference Finals or go onto the NBA Finals, Strus’ value is going to go up even more, which may make it difficult for the Heat to retain him.
He falls into the less expensive but productive category and his shooting would be a welcome addition to the Pistons. Strus could just stick with the team that gave him a chance, but after shooting nearly 40 percent from downtown in this playoff run, other teams are going to come calling.