Kevin Huerter will end up on an extreme end of the value spectrum

The Detroit Pistons made one of the more head-scratching signings of the offseason when they brought back Kevin Huerter on a deal that will pay him $9 million a season. 

It was somewhat confusing, as Huerter was inconsistent for the Pistons, playing well at times when he could stay on the floor, but battling myriad injuries and still missing his 3-point shot. 

There’s also a serious question of whether Huerter will even be in the rotation to start next season, as the Pistons have plenty of guard depth and added other shooters.  

If Huerter is a deep bench player who rarely steps on the floor, then $9 million a season is a steep price that would put him at the extreme low end of the value spectrum. Huerter will be making about as much as Paul Reed and Javonte Green combined, two guys who are expected to play a bigger role in the rotation. 

Huerter will be making more than Daniss Jenkins, who is expected to be the backup point guard, so if he doesn’t play much, he’ll be the most overpaid player on the Pistons by a magnitude. 

But there is also a world in which Huerter ends up on the other extreme pole of the value spectrum. 

Kevin Huerter has to play well, be an insurance policy or a trade chip 

Ideally, Kevin Huerter would regain his form from his days with the Atlanta Hawks, start making 3’s again, provide some secondary creation and average 12-15 efficient points per game, as he did early in his career. 

If those things happen, Huerter will be a bargain at just $9 million. We know that player exists, or at least used to, but he’ll need to re-emerge for the Pistons to get value for money. 

I also see Huerter as an insurance policy against a trade for Duncan Robinson, who happens to be the Pistons most tradable contract, as it’s big enough to dent a star salary if the Pistons are trying to match, but isn’t guaranteed past this season. 

If Robinson were to be traded, Huerter would move up in the pecking order and have a chance to play a vital role. 

Huerter could also represent value as a contract, as that nine million may be needed for salary matching purposes if the Pistons want to take a swing at the trade deadline. Contracts in this range can end up being very valuable, as they are large enough to make a difference but not so large to scare teams away. 

There are multiple ways that the Kevin Huerter deal could end up representing value for the Pistons, but if he doesn’t play, it will continue to be a confusing signing that will look like an extreme overpay. 

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