This Detroit Pistons’ season has been the most enjoyable in memory, and it’s not over yet, as this team hopes to make noise in the playoffs.
But it’s natural to think of what comes next for a team that seems on the verge of contention, which was unthinkable at this time last season.
They have the young core in place but will have tough decisions to make on key free agents Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schroder and it’s going to be difficult to keep all three and make other upgrades.
The Pistons don’t have to go star hunting, and probably won’t, as they’ll have Jaden Ivey returning and can just exercise patience as he and the rest of the young players continue to develop and one of them emerges as Detroit’s second star.
We’ve talked about some potential trade targets that fall into the role player category, but there is also a potential free agent who makes a lot of sense for the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons free agency: Naz Reid
I’ve talked about Naz Reid in the past as a possible free agent for the Pistons, though there are some complications.
The biggest is that he might not be a free agent at all, as he has a player option for next season at $15 million. It’s been widely speculated that he will opt out of this in search of a bigger deal, but that doesn’t mean he’ll leave Minnesota to get it.
Part of the reason the Timberwolves made the KAT trade was so they could retain Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (who I also like), so they aren’t going to let either of them walk without a fight.
That may make it prohibitively expensive for the Pistons to go after Reid, especially if they are intent on retaining their own guys.
But if they can find a way to carve out the cap space (potentially by trading Tobias Harris), Reid is a guy they should target, as he’s a 25-year-old who fits both the timeline and the culture.
Naz Reid: Contract, culture and fit in the post-Tobias Harris world
Reid is going to get a raise next season if he does opt out, probably closer to the $25-30 million range than what he is getting now. As with most free agents, you aren’t getting them without coughing up the money.
But Reid won’t be a max guy, so when you look at the Pistons’ contracts going forward, they could certainly make it work financially.
That’s especially true after Tobias Harris’ contract is off the books, as Reid would essentially just be replacing him on the cap sheet.
As for fit, Reid would slide effortlessly into a roster that is building around defense, culture and hustle, attributes he is known for. Think Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer. Ben and Rasheed Wallace.
He’s also a better 3-point shooter than Harris, so should be able to play with Jalen Duren while giving the Pistons a defender who can make up for some of Duren’s shortcomings around the rim and in space.
Reid can play either big man spot and would give the Pistons a ton of defensive versatility and allow them to always have at least two good defenders on the floor without sacrificing space or shooting.
The Pistons’ biggest long-term need is an answer at power forward, the only position for which they don’ t have a young player in place. Reid could potentially give the Pistons a top 5 defense and be the piece that pushes them from playoff hopeful to title hopeful.