Offseason Roundup for the Detroit Pistons
In what was supposed to be a quiet offseason, President of Basketball Operations, Stan Van Gundy, made a series of moves that changed the course of the Detroit Pistons for years to come.
Van Gundy began the morphing of the Pistons’ roster by signing free agent combo guard, Langston Galloway, to a three year, $21 million. On a team devoid of much outside shooting, ranking nearly last in the NBA, Galloway instantly provides much-needed shooting on the second unit. Galloway is a career 36.6% shooter from behind the arc, and shot an impressive 47.5% from three after being traded to Sacramento in the DeMarcus Cousins trade.
Additionally being a combo guard, Galloway has the ability to play point guard in emergency situations and in some lineups that require added shooting. Galloway’s abilities on offense plus his defensive abilities make him a great addition to the bench.
However, like anything in life, every action has a subsequent consequence.
Prior to the commencement of free agency, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was offered the qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent and giving the Pistons the chance to match any offer that Caldwell-Pope receives. Caldwell-Pope was seeking a substantial payday this offseason, and many clamored for that deserved payday (including myself). At the start of free agency, Caldwell-Pope garnered interest from a few teams like Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
However, things started to turn sour for him. Brooklyn kicked off the offseason trading for D’Angelo Russell, possibly reducing the need to throw Caldwell-Pope a max offer. Philadelphia decided to invest in an older guard on a shorter deal, signing J.J. Redick to a 1 year, $23 million deal, and the market suddenly dried up for Caldwell-Pope.
Today, the Pistons decided it was time to move in another direction. With Caldwell-Pope being a client of Rich Paul, notorious for dragging out contract negotiations in hopes of a lucrative contract, Caldwell-Pope was likely going to accept a contract above market value.
This is where the Brooklyn Nets step into the picture. Even after trading for Russell, the Nets decided to throw Wizards forward, Otto Porter, a 4 year, 106 million dollar maximum contract knowing that the Wizards would match the offer. The Wizards would have until July 8th to match the offer, and only then can the Nets offer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope their offer. Their offer was likely to be something similar, and something the Pistons couldn’t afford.
How can the Pistons not afford to sign Caldwell-Pope now when they had the money for it before?
Well, the timing of the Langston Galloway signing made it so if a team offered Caldwell-Pope a max offer sheet, the Pistons would be over the HARD cap. Going over the hard cap is prohibited and salary must be cut down, so Van Gundy made a shocking move. Van Gundy traded fan-favorite, Marcus Morris to the Boston Celtics for three-and-D specialist and two-time first team all-defensive team player, Avery Bradley and a 2019 second round pick.
Boston had recently agreed to terms with forward, Gordon Hayward, and needed to free up space to sign him — making Bradley, Marcus Smart, or Jae Crowder expendable. Van Gundy capitalized on this and hit the jackpot.
The Pistons will miss Morris’ grit and grind that he brought on a nightly basis, but there was a logjam at the forward position. By trading him, youngsters like Stanley Johnson and Henry Ellenson have a chance to see increased minutes, while Tobias Harris becomes a consistent starter. Morris was stolen from the Suns for only a 2020 second round pick in 2015, so the Pistons turned that 2020 second round pick into Avery Bradley and a 2019 second rounder.
A few moments after this trade was agreed upon, Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons’ front office shocked the NBA world by pulling their offer sheet to Caldwell-Pope and made him an unresticted free agent. With Caldwell-Pope free to sign with any team, Van Gundy removed the headache that the Nets were prepared to provide in giving Caldwell-Pope a contract and the Pistons move forward with 1 year of Avery Bradley at around $8 million.
Bradley brings an incredible tenacity and toughness on defense that most fans hope would translate to the rest of the team. He also steps in and becomes the Pistons’ best shooter, hitting 39% from deep last year.
At only 26 years old and with one more year left on his contract, Bradley is in line for a substantial payday in 2018. Due to the trade, the Pistons retain bird rights on Bradley and can offer more years and money than any other team when it comes to bidding for his services in the summer of 2018.
Detroit also get a chance to court him for one year to try and convince him to stay. If he decides to leave or if the team under performs, Van Gundy now has the cap flexibility to blow the team’s core up if necessary. Specifically, Bradley becomes a trading chip that can be paired with a massive contract like Drummond for a substantial return at the trade deadline.
I would like Bradley to remain a Piston, though. Bradley embodies what the Detroit Pistons are all about: hard work, dedication, and great defense. Bradley has a chance to mentor the young players on the squad and be a positive locker room presence, something that was needed badly last season.
As a result the Pistons’ future is looking a little brighter after today.
