At this point, all Pistons fans would love to see any sign of finally resolving the Jalen Duren saga. But waiving Gary Harris is not that. Even though Detroit's decision to cut ways with the veteran shooting guard opens up another roster spot, it doesn't necessarily mean a resolution with Duren is coming soon.
Gary Harris' dismissal doesn't change anything immediately
Harris was traded to the Pistons along with Taurean Prince for Caris LeVert and draft picks this offseason, as a way for Detroit to salary-dump LeVert. But it was always expected that Harris wouldn't stick around in Detroit for long, considering his poor play in recent seasons. Last season, he averaged under 3 points per game in 48 appearances with the Bucks.
If a player can't even earn any minutes on a non-playoff team, there's no space for him in the Pistons rotation. So Harris' departure from the Pistons now shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. The timing, of course, is interesting with Duren's qualifying offer deadline approaching. But there have been no signs indicating that Duren will sign an extension before the last possible moment, and Harris' roster spot shouldn't affect that either way.
With both Harris and Duren signed, the Pistons would have been at 16 players under standard contracts - one more than the league limit. However, they are allowed to remain over that amount into the preseason, so they could have chosen to waive Harris at a later point even after signing Duren.
The Pistons gave Harris a chance at a new home
Instead, Detroit's decision to waive Harris now should be seen as a good-faith offering for the struggling veteran. Harris hasn't had a consistent role over the last two seasons and wasn't going to find one with the Pistons. After being waived, he'll have the freedom to seek out other opportunities and potentially revive his NBA career in the right spot.
A prime candidate to pick him up might be his first team, the Denver Nuggets. Denver is in a deep financial hole now that prevents them from signing most players beyond the minimum. But Harris is in a position where he would be glad to take that minimum if he can get real opportunities to prove himself.
It's been over 5 years since he was traded from the Nuggets, but perhaps a homecoming will be exactly what Harris needs. The Pistons gave him that option with the timing of their move before training camp. But unfortunately, there's not necessarily a hidden deeper meaning to the move for the Pistons, whether it be a massive trade or finally bringing back Duren officially.
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