5 Moves The Detroit Pistons Can Make In Free Agency
The Detroit Pistons narrowly missed the playoffs last year, and acquiring the right pieces in free agency could push them back into the postseason.
The Detroit Pistons finished four games out of the eighth and final NBA Playoff spot in the Eastern Conference last season. Two teams in front of the Pistons (Pacers and Bulls) could both be going through a rebuild next year, opening up a spot for Detroit to sneak into the playoffs.
The Pistons have four free agents that could potentially leave this offseason: Beno Udrih and Aron Baynes are both scheduled to be unrestricted free agents come the first of July, while Reggie Bullock and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are restricted free agents. I expect both Bullock and KCP to be back in Detroit uniforms next year. Add in draft pick Luke Kennard, and the Pistons look like at present, they should be able to slide up into the eighth or maybe even the seventh seed.
What free agents can the Pistons pair up with Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond? Here are five of them that could make a big difference for Detroit in the 2017–18 season.
Darren Collison
PG | SAC | 12. 7 PPG/4.8 APG/2.6 RPG
Udrih is more than likely to not be back with the Pistons, and he’s going to be 35 years old, going on 36 this upcoming season. Darren Collison is still under 30 and can give the Pistons a more athletic point guard off the bench.
Collison should not see any offers anywhere to start, and with a lot of young guys on the team, the Pistons could use another veteran-type player who can contribute immediately off the bench.
Ben McLemore
SG | SAC | 9.4 PPG / 1.2 APG / 2.6 RPG
Luke Kennard is not going to be ready to play meaningful NBA minutes right away, so why not go after Collison’s former teammate in Sacramento in McLemore? McLemore isn’t a star, but he’s underperformed. The Pistons should be able to get McLemore for cheap on potentially a one-year deal. This would be another move to stock up the bench and save the legs for KCP come the late season push and also for the playoffs.
Jeff Green
F | ORL | 13.4 PPG / 1.6 APG / 4.7 RPG
Green was once upon a time a major component to a budding Oklahoma City Thunder team. He is not the player he once was, but he can still contribute. The 6-foot-9 forward is only 30 years old and does not have a whole lot of mileage on those legs.
Green can play both forward positions, can score, has shown he can rebound the ball really well, and is a low-key locker room leader. Uncle Jeff will not take any starting minutes away from Tobias Harris, but can spell him. Yes, this is another bench signing, but that is the Pistons’ weakness. Green could also be acquired for a very good price.
Dante Cunningham
F | NOP | 6.1 PPG / 0.7 APG / 3.8 RPG
Yep, another role player off the bench. Cunningham can play both the four and five positions. He’s not going to be an offensive juggernaut, but the Pistons would have enough scoring on the wing and backcourt with the second unit. Cunningham would work well playing next to both Drummond and Tobias Harris.
Dewayne Dedmon
C | SAS | 4.3 PPG / 0.3 APG / 5.1 RPG
Dedmon made himself a bit of money this season with the Spurs. He is not going to be a go-to guy, and I’m not quite sure he is a starter in the NBA outside a rebuilding team. However, he can be quite the asset off the bench for the right team. He would rarely, if ever, play next to Drummond, but again, he would be a great piece off the bench to anchor the defense. Dedmon would play very well next to either Green or Cunningham on the second unit. Out of the five free agents listed here, he is the one I would go after more so than the others.
What direction do the Pistons actually go starting on Saturday will be interesting. There has been very little coming out of Detroit about what their thoughts are. I don’t see Detroit building a super team that is currently the rage in the NBA, but I see them building a team that can win a game or two in the first round next season.
