How the Pistons can use expiring contracts to land a star
The Detroit Pistons’ offseason started strongly when the team hired Monty Williams and then landed two more first-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.
But it’s been a bit of a letdown since, as fans went from dreaming of adding an impact free agent to being told we were getting Joe Harris and Monte Morris via trades. Fans aren’t exactly happy about it, though it became clear pretty early on that those big-time free agents were just a pipe dream, and one the Pistons were smart to avoid given the salaries involved.
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Financial pragmatism and flexibility aren’t the sexiest sells, but the trades the Pistons made this offseason did give them the opportunity to make a big trade down the road.
They have a ton of money in expiring deals to offer up and can now just sit back and wait for the right player to become available.
I don’t know if it’s the “right” player, but there may be a star available soon.
How the Pistons can use expiring contracts to land a star
Yesterday the Minnesota Timberwolves announced that they had inked star Anthony Edwards to a massive extension:
JUST IN: Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards and WME Sports’ Bill Duffy are finalizing a five-year maximum contract extension that can reach $260 million, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2023
I am always happy for players to get their money, but am I the only one who thinks it is wild that Edwards and guys like LaMelo Ball are getting these massive extensions before they’ve actually done anything?
Old man yelling at clouds aside, this deal gives the Timberwolves three guys who will eventually be making a combined $139 million and were just the core of a team that was the 8th seed in the Western Conference.
It seems like one of them will have to go, so could the Detroit Pistons get involved?