The offseason is well underway for the Detroit Pistons, who have already inked a new coach to a long-term deal and added two more first-round picks to the roster.
Yesterday, they turned their attention to their own guys, as it was announced that Detroit would pick up the team options on both Isaiah Livers and Alec Burks.
As far as news goes, this was completely expected, as both guys are on team-friendly deals and offer skills the Pistons need. Livers had and up and down season, and he needs to be more consistently on the court, but he also showed flashes of what he can add as a defender and as a connector and 3-point shooter on offense.
The veteran Alec Burks was a no-brainer, as he is a very good 3-point shooter, something Detroit lacks, and is on a deal that will pay him $10.5 million, a bargain for a guy who shot over 41 percent from 3-point range this past season. They either keep him in a big role off the bench or he would be very easy to move in a trade, as every contending team wants more shooters.
These moves were completely expected and now the Pistons know what they will have heading into NBA free agency.
Detroit Pistons’ cap space after signing Alec Burks and Isiah Livers
As expected the Pistons will have just under $30 million in cap space to spend in free agency, though that number could dip slightly if they decide to bring back veteran Rodney McGruder. They have already waived Cory Joseph and Hamidou Diallo is likely to take his services elsewhere as well.
Houston will have the most money to spend and could be competing with Detroit for players depending on which directions the teams decide to go with their money.
The rumblings that Detroit will present a big offer sheet to Cameron Johnson are growing, and if they were to go to say 4 years/$100 million, that might be enough to scare Brooklyn away. Any big-name free agent is going to eat up most of their cap space, but Detroit still has other ways to clear money if they want to add other guys.
Trading one of their big men could do it, as they have nearly $25 million tied up in James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley III and there is not a clear path to minutes for both of them. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Detroit trade one of them for a true forward or to even give one of them away for a 2nd-round pick to clear their salaries and have more money in free agency.
It all kicks off at 6PM ET on Friday, when teams can “officially” start negotiating with free agents.