The Pistons will not pick up the team options of center Luka Garza and guard Carsen Edwards, James Edwards III of The Athletic tweets.
The option on Garza, a second-r0und pick last season, is worth $1,563,518. The option figure for Edwards, who joined the Pistons late last season, is $1,815,677.
Edwards also confirms that Detroit will decline the $3,150,000 option on Frank Jackson‘s contract, which he previously reported was likely.
Technically, Detroit could make Garza and Edwards restricted free agents by extending qualifying offers, but that’s unlikely given the team could have retained either player at a low-cost figure. The Pistons are projected to have more cap space than any other team in free agency and these moves open up a little more room to make a splash.
Garza, who starred at Iowa, appeared in 32 games (five starts) last season, averaging 5.8 PPG and 3.1 RPG in 12.2 MPG. The addition of lottery pick Jalen Duren increased the possibility that Garza would be let go.
Edwards spent the bulk of last season in the G League before appearing in four games with Detroit in April.
WOW! Garza was a pretty decent player for them last year in the limited minutes he received, and he was only owed a minimum
Unfortunately he may never be able to defend atleast adequately on the NBA level. Shame because he is definately a pro scorer.
Raps, can develop him to a great center
Raps want bigs that can switch.
Actually, every team in the NBA wants bigs that can switch.
Wow. From reject to great in one franchise.
Don’t be surprised to see Garza with the Pistons by the time the season rolls around – either on a regular contract or on a 2W deal.
Open up the cap space for your FA signings and then resign the player at the vet minimum even if there is no cap space left.
It feels like the Pistons are setting up for a max offer to someone. Who could it be? My money is on Bridges. We shall see.
See the thing is everyone wants the pistons to go after Miles Bridges,the only thing is he and Saddiq Bey play the same position so who’s gonna start and who’s gonna come off the bench???
I mean, Bridges started with Hayward. The Pistons would probably run Cade, Ivey, Bey, Bridges, Duren/Stewart
Position less basketball…. It’s where the NBA is going
Pistons going after a big name (Ayton or bridges) is a mistake. Sign some vets to put around the young guys and save the cap space and flexibility to make a flash next year. Neither Ayton or Bridges would take them over the edge and their contracts would end up handcuffing them
Frank Jackson is the one who had a chance. Something went wrong there (probably ahead of his shooting).
Garza IS GOING to find a team.
Coming out of Iowa, many on this site spoke of Garza as if he was the second coming of Geoege Mikan. Unfortunately, he IS… but this is 2022.