The Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves are no strangers to fighting each other, as they had a dust up this season that led to several suspensions. They may have a different kind of fight this offseason, as they battle for free agents.
The Pistons are unlikely to remake their roster with a trade for a star player this summer, but they do need to make impact additions.
The Pistons need shooting, more size and a further injection of players who have experience in big games in the playoffs. Detroit will undoubtedly bring back at least one or two of their own free agents but could look to supplement with some fresh blood from another team.
One team to watch is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have made it to the Western Conference Finals for the second straight season but will have some tough roster decisions to make this summer.
The T’Wolves had the second-highest payroll in the league this season, $16 million over the second tax apron, which has some real teeth, both financial and when it comes to building a deep roster.
Minnesota made the Karl-Anthony Towns trade in part to avoid the financial pitfalls that were looming, but it’s still going to be difficult to keep this team together, a challenge that increases as they go deeper into the playoffs.
The Timberwolves have two potential free agents that should interest the Pistons, and it will be tough for Minnesota to keep them both.
Naz Reid
I’ve written about Naz Reid several times, as I think he’d be a perfect addition to what the Pistons are building.
He gives them another big who can defend the rim and play either position, as you can put him on the floor as the four with another big or as a small-ball center. Unlike the Pistons’ two big men, Reid can also spread the floor and has shot 46.7 percent from long range in these playoffs.
He’s tough, he hustles, he has big game experience after deep playoff runs, and he’d be great insurance against an injury to Jalen Duren or Isaiah Stewart.
The challenge with Reid is that he has a $15 million player option for next season, though he will likely decline it to seek a bigger deal after averaging 14 points, six rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season while shooting 38 percent from long range on nearly six attempts per game.
Reid is likely to get a big raise if he does hit free agency, and the Pistons may not even have the money to get him, especially if Cade Cunningham makes All-NBA, which will reduce Detroit’s available cap space.
Reid is a great fit, but it won’t be cheap to get him and would cost the Pistons other valuable players they may want to bring back.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
NAW is an unrestricted free agent, and if the Timberwolves do indeed have to let one of these guys go, it will probably be him.
NAW has evolved into more of a defensive stopper on the wing, though he has flashed a broader offensive game in the past. He does shoot 38 percent from 3-point range on 4.5 attempts per game, so he would give the Pistons another relentless defender who can also spread the floor.
NAW won’t be cheap either, as this isn’t a deep free-agent group and there are other teams who would like his size and defense on the wing. But he’s a guy the Pistons might be able to sign and still keep 1-2 of their own guys, which may be more impactful than putting all of their chips on one player.
Trajan Langdon is very familiar with NAW from their time together in New Orleans, so could use those connections as a selling point in a free-agent pitch.
Minnesota will try their best to keep them both and may be able to depending on what happens with Julius Randle, but if not, the Pistons should be ready to pounce on whichever one is available.
Championship teams usually lose key players who cash in on the team's success in free agency, so if you like either of these players for the Pistons, you should be cheering for Minnesota to advance.