The Pistons plan to match any offer that restricted free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope receives, according to Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press.
The organization is prepared to give the fourth-year shooting guard a maximum deal if that’s what it takes to keep him in Detroit, Ellis adds, with several sources saying he is an important part of the team’s future.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season, but his numbers declined after the All-Star break. Ellis states that the Pistons may have viewed the situation differently if they were confident that Stanley Johnson was ready to become a starter, but they believe keeping Caldwell-Pope is vital and they wouldn’t be able to get an adequate replacement because of their cap situation.
Ellis touches on several other Pistons-related matters:
- Trade talks involving Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson will continue this offseason. Ellis states that the organization is becoming impatient with Drummond, with coach/executive Stan Van Gundy saying in Friday’s press conference that he needs a “sense of urgency to elevate his game.” Jackson’s drop in production stemmed from left knee tendinitis that plagued him throughout the season, and Ellis claims the only available replacement who might be an upgrade is the Suns’ Eric Bledsoe.
- The Pistons believe they have enough young players and future first-rounders to acquire a star this offseason. There were rumors that Drummond was offered to the Kings for DeMarcus Cousins before he was sent to New Orleans, and a source told Ellis the Pistons contacted the Pacers about Paul George but never got close to a deal. George has another season left before he can opt out, and Detroit might be interested in taking the chance that it can re-sign him, but only if the price in a trade comes down. Other targets could include Jimmy Butler and Carmelo Anthony.
- Although the Pistons might benefit from a franchise-altering move, Van Gundy said smaller deals are more realistic. “There’s a couple things we’d like to do and make us a little bit better, but I don’t think we’re broken” he said. “Getting our point guard situation back to where it was or even better is more than feasible and corrects a great deal of the problems we’re talking about. Our roster is pretty good from there.”
I’m pretty sure 13.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 2.6 APG and an arrest does not mean max contract.
The arrest is basically irrelevant. It’s not like he has a history. And he is more so getting paid for his perceived defensive ability, which don’t show up in that stat line
Caldwell-Pope is far from a max player, he’s not making Detroit a contender period specially with that cast around him. Drummond is absolutely garbage on offense and Jackson plays no defense.
That’s the problem with the league today. Offering average players max or close to max contracts, then looking to deal the player after being ‘shocked’ that the player didn’t live up to the contract. I’m sure Pope will live up to that label, as has Monroe, Noah, Matthews, etc.
SVG has no clue what he is doing.
SVG will be fired if he gives pope a max deal. Look at the roster he has assembled since he’s been in charge of the pistons then take a look into the past what dumars did with the roster of the pistons (championship)!!
I expect KCP to get a max offer sheet, esp from the Nets.