When the Detroit Pistons traded for Tim Hardaway Jr. last summer it looked like a classic salary dump, as they took on his $16 million expiring contract and three 2nd-round picks for Quentin Grimes.
And if you looked at the Pistons’ roster coming into the season, THJ would stand out as the guy least likely to be there past the trade deadline, as the Pistons could either sell his expiring to a contender for more 2nd-round picks or package it with their cap space to add another impact player.
Now I am not so sure.
The Grimes vs. THJ debate is moot to me at this point, as Hardaway Jr. has been good for the Pistons as both a shooter and team leader and has been a big part of the culture they are building.
He’s hit big shots, stepped up when needed and has been an overall positive for the young Pistons’ players, who he has been supporting and coaching up on and off the court.
This has put the Detroit Pistons in a tough position.
Tim Hardaway Jr. has an expiring contract
Nothing has changed about THJ’s expiring contract, which will see him as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
The Pistons could just let him play it out and walk, leaving them a nice chunk of cap space, and it’s possible that’s the choice they will make.
But if some team comes sniffing around at the deadline and the Pistons can nab an asset it would be tough to pass up, as otherwise he will walk for nothing in return.
It wouldn’t be a big loss, as it is not like THJ is going to command a big price at the deadline, and the Pistons would likely have to take back a bigger contract.
It’s not catastrophic for the long-term plans either way, but it’s something to consider.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is too good to trade
Packaging THJ’s expiring with their current cap space is enough to get into the conversation for a star player, but who is that going to be exactly?
Would trading Isaiah Stewart and THJ (as has been suggested) for a guy like Brandon Ingram really make the Pistons better? I have my doubts.
The problem is that if the Pistons do want to make a big move, THJ’s contract would almost have to be involved, and when you look at some of the available names, you do have to question whether the Pistons would be better off just staying put, especially if they had to sacrifice valuable depth to get one of them.
There are likely other available players who aren’t being discussed openly, but Trajan Langdon will have to balance his team’s chemistry and depth vs. adding a player with red flags, which is pretty much all that is available on the star end of trade rumors.
THJ’s play and effect on the young team has given the Pistons a welcome problem, which is that he’s too important to just give away for late picks or in a salary dump, and they may not be able to find a suitable upgrade in a trade.
Would it be the worst thing if the Pistons just played out this season without a big addition? I am leaning hard towards “no, it wouldn’t.”
My only concern is depth, as the Pistons are another injury away from being in big trouble, but I no longer think it’s a given that THJ’s contract will be the asset the Pistons use to get it.