The Pistons have known all along that the pending free agency of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be tough to handle, but it would be an easier pill to swallow were they winning at the rate they enjoyed in 2015/16. According to Pistons.com editor Keith Langlois, Caldwell-Pope’s agents could use Allen Crabbe‘s four-year, $72MM deal with the Trail Blazers as a precedent and then ask for considerably more.
In four seasons with Detroit, Caldwell-Pope has established himself as a gritty, lockdown defender who doesn’t take plays off. While his relatively modest 14.4 points per game (14.5 last season) do little to justify his case as a big money player to those who haven’t seen him play, his reputation is what has earned him the trust of head coach Stan Van Gundy.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 36.7 minutes per game last season as the Pistons crept into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Only three players, James Harden, Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler played more for their respective teams.
The Pistons already have four players owed over $10MM next season, including Andre Drummond who will collect $23.8MM, but the team will see Josh Smith‘s $14MM wiped as consolation.
Elsewhere in the Central Division:
- In light of the Cavaliers‘ recent deal for Kyle Korver, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio explores what could be next for the team. Per Amico, Mario Chalmers and Jarrett Jack are among the names that could be added as a backup point guard.
- Former teammate of LeBron James and current Bulls guard, Dwyane Wade spoke with Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago regarding the Korver deal. “You want the politically correct answer, or the other one? The rich getting richer,” said Wade of the Cavaliers.
- There are several reasons why the Korver trade could shift the balance of power to the Cavaliers, writes Keith Smart of RealGM in a recap of the deal. Smart expects Korver’s numbers to surge like Channing Frye‘s did when he was acquired late last season.
Welcome aboard Kyle. You’re gonna love it in sunny, errrrr, snowy Cleveland.
Cleveland is going to put down the Warriors and their overrated “super team” in at least 5 games
KCP and Otto Porter are the best young restricted free agents on the entire market. On one hand, not a lot of teams are expected to have max money. On the other hand, for those that do, KCP will be a prime target. It’s his defense.
Sixers. Nets, Nuggets. Really all depends on the draft. The Nets are the team that most needs FA to build. Blake is the only real UFA worth going after. KCP and Porter are both RFAs and I expect the same thing that happened last year. Only 3 players changed teams that were RFAs.
I think RFA’s should get teams on board with 1 yr deals with handshake deals to sign the following season if matched. Players could really game the system.
The Timberwolves tried that. Didn’t work out so well.