The Detroit Pistons will turn to free agency today after already having signed their new head coach and landed two first-round draft picks.
Detroit has already made some roster moves, picking up the team options on Alec Burks, Isaiah Livers and Eugene Omoruyi, and signing Jared Rhoden to a new two-way deal. The Omoruyi and Rhoden deals can be cleared as easy as they were signed, so for those out there worried about the Pistons’ cap space, they can still get to around $30 million if they need to.
Free agency kicks off today at 6PM ET, but teams are already making moves, some which could end up affecting the Detroit Pistons.
NBA free agency: The James Harden trade
The first major news was that James Harden is going to opt-in to his final year so that Philadelphia can trade him:
BREAKING: 76ers G James Harden is picking up his $35.6 million option and sides are beginning to work together in exploring trade scenarios, sources tell ESPN. It’s expected that Harden has played his last game for Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/GguWgysfNZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2023
The two frontrunners so far are the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks, but there will likely be other teams involved, and one of them could be Detroit.
No, the Pistons are not going to trade for James Harden, but neither the Knicks nor the Clippers have the cap space to sign him outright and may need a place to dump a contract or two. Detroit could be the perfect place, as they have cap space and could absorb a contract to help facilitate the big trade.
Could the Detroit Pistons pursue Herb Jones?
Another interesting name hit the free-agent market yesterday when the Pelicans announced that they were declining the option on forward Herb Jones:
The New Orleans Pelicans are declining forward Herb Jones’ $1.8 million team option for the 2023-24 season, which clears way for Jones to be a restricted free agent and for the sides to work toward a long-term extension, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2023
I absolutely love Jones, who is an elite defender, plays his butt off at all times and has a decent 3-point shot, especially from the corners, where he shot 34 percent, not great, but not terrible. He can also close off the bounce and finish in transition, so some of Jones’ offensive red flags aren’t as bad as people say.
Adding an elite defender on the wing makes sense for a Detroit team that was near the bottom of every defensive category last season. But Ausar Thompson could be that player very soon and has too many overlapping traits with Jones.
Had the Pistons drafted a more offensive-minded player, Jones it would make sense to go after Jones, but now? Not as much, though I would still love The Strait Jacket in Detroit.
Detroit Pistons: Will Gabriele Procida play in Summer League?
Many fans have been wondering if 2022 second-round prospect Gabriele Procida will play in Summer League this year and the answer is probably not.
The Pistons would need to buy out Procida’s German contract for him to be able to play in Summer League, and once they do that, they’d have to either sign him to a contract or risk losing him.
With so many young players already, it makes more sense to let him play out his deal in Europe, get his reps and hope that he can contribute in another year or two.