Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2017 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2017/18 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Detroit Pistons.
Signings:
- Langston Galloway: Three years, $21MM.
- Eric Moreland: Three years, $5.479MM. First year partially guaranteed ($750K). Second and third years non-guaranteed.
- Reggie Bullock: Two years, $5MM. Second year non-guaranteed.
- Anthony Tolliver: One year, $3.29MM.
- Luis Montero: Two-way contract. Two years.
- Dwight Buycks: Two-way contract. One year, $50K guaranteed.
Camp invitees:
- Beno Udrih: One year, minimum salary. Exact details not yet known.
- Landry Nnoko: One year, minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10.
- Derek Willis: One year, minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10.
Trades:
- Acquired cash ($1MM) from the Rockets in exchange for Darrun Hilliard.
- Acquired Avery Bradley and a 2019 second-round pick from the Celtics in exchange for Marcus Morris.
Draft picks:
- 1-12: Luke Kennard — Signed to rookie contract.
Departing players:
- Aron Baynes
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Michael Gbinije (waived)
- Darrun Hilliard
- Marcus Morris
Other offseason news:
- Moved to downtown Detroit, from Palace of Auburn Hills to Little Caesars Arena.
- Jason Maxiell retired as a Piston.
Salary cap situation:
- Operating over the cap and under the tax. Carrying approximately $115MM in guaranteed salaries. Hard-capped. Only minimum salary exception available.
Check out the Detroit Pistons’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.
Story of the summer:
Head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy, along with GM Jeff Bower, had a tough dilemma following a very disappointing 2016/17 campaign: Should they give shooting guard and restricted free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a long-term contract?
Entering the offseason, the general consensus was that the Pistons would either lock up Caldwell-Pope or they would match an offer sheet, as long as the monetary burden wasn’t overwhelming. Caldwell-Pope was the team’s best perimeter defender, matching up with the opponent’s top offensive guard, regardless of whether that player was a point guard or shooting guard. He could also shadow some threes in smaller lineups.
A few factors swayed Van Gundy and Bower in another direction. First, Caldwell-Pope’s spotty offensive production was an issue. In 31 of the 76 games he played last season, Caldwell-Pope scored 10 or fewer points.
Second, the Pistons were already saddled with burdensome contracts for starters Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond, Tobias Harris and backup Jon Leuer. Giving Caldwell-Pope $20MM or more annually would push a team that didn’t even make the playoffs last season into luxury tax territory. Third, they found a better solution, at least in the short term.
The Celtics needed to unload some salary in order to sign Gordon Hayward and the Pistons swooped in and traded for versatile Avery Bradley to replace Caldwell-Pope. Bradley becomes a free agent after this season, though Detroit’s brass has already indicated its desire to re-sign Bradley.
The Pistons renounced their rights to Caldwell-Pope once they agreed to the deal. As it turned out, Caldwell-Pope had a harder time finding long-term security than expected. He signed a one-year, $18MM contract with the Lakers and will return to the free agent market next summer.