The Pistons have “telegraphed” to other teams around the NBA that they’d prefer to use their cap room to accommodate salary dumps and accumulate draft picks rather than spending big in free agency, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN. Detroit projects to be one of the only teams that will have more than $20MM in cap space this fall.
Speaking today to reporters, new Detroit general manager Troy Weaver said that both options – using that cap room to collect assets or sign free agents – are on the table. As Weaver explained, it’ll be a juggling act for the Pistons, who want to be competitive in the short term but are also building for the future (Twitter links via James Edwards III of The Athletic).
Interestingly, Weaver added that teams haven’t been as desperate to shed salary as might be expected, given the presumed financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic (Twitter link via Edwards). If Weaver and the Pistons don’t feel as if they’re getting good value in potential salary-dump deals, the team might be more inclined to invest in free agents.
Here’s more out of Detroit:
- According to Weaver, the Pistons intend to use all 10 of their allotted pre-draft visits and LaMelo Ball is expected to be one of the prospects the club meets with in person (Twitter link via Keith Langlois of Pistons.com).
- The Pistons are “definitely” interested in picking up second-round selections in this year’s draft, Weaver said today (Twitter link via Edwards). Currently, the team only holds the No. 7 overall pick, having previously traded away its second-rounder.
- Unsurprisingly, Weaver confirmed that the Pistons are very interested in re-signing Christian Wood and will continue talks with his representatives. Asked about a potential price tag, Weaver replied, “Do I have a number in my head? Yeah, I always have a number in my head. Let’s see how it works out” (Twitter link via Edwards).
- Weaver anticipates Blake Griffin will be healthy and ready to go for the start of the 2020/21 season after missing most of the last year with a knee issue (Twitter link via Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press).
- In an article for The Athletic, James Edwards III considers whether the Pistons should roll the dice on a raw project at No. 7, like they did in the lottery a year ago with Sekou Doumbouya. Speaking today to reporters, Weaver said the Pistons are also open to moving either up or down from No. 7 (Twitter link via Sankofa).
Any GM/president that gives Christian wood more than 8 million is going to get fired.
Good thing you are typing this from your couch and not actually in an office with an actual NBA team.
8 million(per season)*
Pistons should use their cap room to buy some posters for the basement of the Eastern Conference. Sadly where they’ll be living the next few years…if you ask me. Absolutely heartbreaking.
If I’m the Pistons, I want Wood back. I want Wood back real bad.
I’m starting off at $10M/year, but that is (basically) the standard mid-level exception, so I wouldn’t be alone in offering that. Signing a 2/20 with DET would be better for him than signing 2/20 anywhere else though as then DET will have his Bird Rights. If that isn’t enough of a perk (it isn’t), then DET might have to go up to 2/30 or 4/50 to get him to resign.
Based on the HoopRumors.com Glossary, it sounds like Wood’s early bird rights will result in the Pistons only needing to use cap space on anything exceeding $7M/year.
Draft LaMelo, get his dad to interfere with the staff for free.
If Pistons don’t pay Wood market value, Knicks will make the payments for Pistons
I am serious
Top 5 hot product
Players real value = meaningless
Market value is the key
Worse contract: Horford v Griffin
Let’s assume that Griffin picks up year 2, and that the 6ers don’t pick up year 3 for Horford (which is partially guaranteed at $14M). That means that Griffin is only making $7.1M more than Horford over the next 2 years.
IF (notice big ‘if’) Griffin can be mostly healthy, he can still earn his paycheck like he did in ’18-’19.
Horford was healthy last year (to my knowledge) and he was slightly above average. Not what you want at $27+M/year.
Advantage: Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons
I said that incorrectly as Horford’s $14M would be applied to the cap for year 3, so the $7.1M isn’t technically over 2 years, as some of Horford’s cost would be deferred to year 3.
Based on IFs, who would you rather trade for tho?
Neither is great, but I feel the potential bounce back is higher for Griffin than for Horford. It may end up as the other way around or neither bouncing back, but I just have a feeling Griffin still has a chance at maybe not being a #1 option, but being a solid 2 or 3 option on a good team.
Pistons should be in full rebuild mode. Next yrs draft is suppose to be better and deeper. I would move Rose and Griffin. Load up on picks for next yr. Move Woods on sign n trade. They got him as FA. So it’s all gravy for them. The seventh pick this yr could be Hayes. PG of future. Then could have 3 number one picks next yr. Plus theirs will be lottery pick. Deep draft next yr. Sooner you rebuild. Sooner you become a playoff team.
Wood should go to Charlotte…