As the Pistons search for shooting guard upgrades this summer, Austin Reaves has been a rumored free agency target. But the actual logistics of clearing enough cap space to offer Reaves a competitive contract are a nightmare that will probably never come to fruition. Unfortunately, Reaves will demand too much in the open market and from his current team for Detroit to seriously pursue him.
The Pistons are in no position to acquire ReavesÂ
If the Pistons were serious about adding Reaves, they would have to move heaven and earth to maximize financial flexibility. According to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan, this would probably take multiple moves and gut the roster immensely.Â
Detroit can find the money to pay Reaves if they give up their holds on Tobias Harris, Kevin Huerter and Malik Beasley while also waiving Duncan Robinson and trading away Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser plus declining Tolu Smith’s team option. If that sounds like a lot to sacrifice for one player, that’s because it is. Reaves is a solid player with breakout potential in a bigger role, but losing a third of your roster to add him is just asking for trouble.
Surely the Pistons will be more aggressive in pursuing free agents this summer now that they’ve established themselves as playoff contenders. But they can’t afford to sacrifice all flexibility for a player who may not be worth a max contract. Even players far better than Reaves haven’t been worth such massive overhauls in recent seasons, as most champions have relied on some form of depth rather than an expensive duo or trio.
Reaves might not be worth his next contract
Naturally, Reaves should be looking to maximize his next deal this summer. He's been underpaid the last couple seasons on his rookie contract and hopes to recoup some of those earnings with a big payday. But if he's seeking anything close to his max possible contract of 5 years and $239 million, most teams will be reluctant to pay him.
Although Reaves is a capable second option, he's not worth a max contract. He put up 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game this season but remains a weak defender. Although his skillset would fit perfectly on the Pistons alongside Cade Cunningham, Detroit might be better off making cheaper moves than pursuing him.
If the Pistons are hesitant to pursue Reaves seriously, it's not because of his play on the court. Instead, his contract would put them into a tough situation and make it extremely difficult to build out the remaining roster. In today's cap situation, spending that sort of money on a second option who's never been an All-Star could be a death sentence.
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