Detroit Pistons Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Pistons Notes: Beasley, Open Roster Spot, Draft, In-Season Tournament

August 14th, 2024 at 6:22pm CST by Arthur Hill

Family connections weren’t the most important factor in Malik Beasley‘s free agency decision, but the new Pistons guard said his mother was happy to hear he’s going to play in the city where she grew up, writes Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press.

A starter with Milwaukee last season, Beasley accepted a one-year, $6MM offer to join the rebuilding effort in Detroit. He quickly embraced the community and spoke to Sankofa while conducting a youth basketball camp.

“I want to make this year impactful, and coming from a championship team I want to bring that energy to here,” Beasley said. “And as I said before, my family’s from here, so giving back to the community is always helpful and makes me happy. I definitely miss the Detroit basketball, that energy. I want to bring that back. Growing up, every summer my mom used to bring me out here to get roughed up and learn from my cousins. I’ve been here a lot and have a lot of family, so I’m excited.”

Beasley was a priority for new head of basketball operations Trajan Langdon, who sought to add outside shooting and veteran leadership to the young roster he inherited. Beasley has appeared in 37 playoff games throughout his career, while most of his new teammates have never gotten close to the postseason. He told Sankofa that he’s already started the teaching process during offseason workouts.

“Just letting them know what it takes,” he said. “It’s going to take effort, getting over screens. If we’re doing a drill right now in the summertime and there’s nobody guarding us and we’re doing the drill to do the drill, stuff like that, I’ll tell them ‘Hey, you’re going to have Jrue Holiday on you, that’s not going to work. Hey, if I’m guarding you right now I would take that from you because you’re doing this.’ Just being there for those guys. They’re teaching me as well. It’s a whole big group and we look forward to getting to where we need to go.”

There’s more from Detroit:

Despite being the only remaining team with cap room, the Pistons won’t be in a rush to hand out a 15th standard contract, Keith Langlois of NBA.com states in a mailbag column. He expects the team to retain its flexibility in case an opportunity arises to acquire assets by facilitating a trade. Langlois also points out that Wendell Moore, who was acquired from Minnesota during the draft, only has a $2.54MM contract, so it would be relatively easy to open another roster spot if necessary.
In his first draft with the Pistons, Langdon proved he’s not afraid to take chances, Langlois adds in the same piece. He notes that neither Ron Holland or Bobi Klintman were considered “safe” picks, but Langdon was willing to gamble on their athletic gifts and competitive spirit.
The Pistons will be seeking their first-ever victory in the in-season tournament when plays begins in November, notes Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News. Last season’s four tournament contests came during the team’s record-setting 28-game losing streak. Detroit is in East Group B this year with Milwaukee, Miami, Indiana and Toronto.

Pistons Only Team With Cap Room Remaining

August 13th, 2024 at 1:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Now that the Jazz have used up their cap room by renegotiating Lauri Markkanen‘s contract and completing a series of minor signings, only one NBA team is still operating under the cap: Detroit.

The Pistons currently have a team salary of $130,348,501, giving them $10,239,499 in space below the cap ($140,588,000). They could increase that figure to nearly $18MM by waiving Paul Reed‘s non-guaranteed $7,723,000 salary, though there’s no indication they plan to do so.

With 14 players on standard contracts, the Pistons have an opening on their projected 15-man regular season roster for 2024/25 and could – in theory – make an aggressive offer to a free agent using their remaining cap room. But the unrestricted free agents who remain unsigned will likely end up on minimum-salary deals or something very close to it, so Detroit is unlikely to make a $10MM offer to any of them.

The lone standard restricted free agent, forward Isaac Okoro, makes sense as a target, given his age, defensive pedigree, and familiarity with new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who coached him in Cleveland. But there haven’t been any hints that the Pistons are considering an offer sheet for Okoro, and they’d probably have to waive Reed to put together an offer strong enough to dissuade the Cavs from matching.

In all likelihood, the Pistons will simply hold their remaining cap space open for now, keeping an eye on the trade market for opportunities that could net them additional assets, like their previous deals for Tim Hardaway Jr. and Wendell Moore.

In past years, it wasn’t unusual for teams to hold significant chunks of cap room open into the regular season, knowing they could use that space at the trade deadline to accommodate salary-dump deals. But the new CBA requires teams to spend up to at least the minimum salary floor before opening night — if they don’t, they lose that cap room and make themselves ineligible to receive the end-of-season payout from taxpaying teams. That’s likely one reason why the league-wide cap room has dried up so early in the year.

The minimum salary floor is $126.5MM this season, so the Pistons have surpassed that threshold.

While the Pistons are the only team with cap room available, clubs operating over the cap and well below the luxury tax line still have a good deal of flexibility to take on extra salary in trades due to the more generous salary-matching rules in the current CBA.

Those rules allow teams below the first tax apron to take back up to 200% of their outgoing salary (plus $250K) for any amount up to $7.5MM; the outgoing salary plus $7.5MM for any amount between $7.5MM and $29MM; and 125% of the outgoing salary (plus $250K) for any amount above $29MM.

For instance, if the Jazz were to trade Jordan Clarkson and his $14,092,577 salary, they could take back up to $21,592,577 (Clarkson’s salary, plus $7.5MM). By comparison, if the Pistons were to trade Hardaway ($16,193,183), they could take back up to $26,682,682 using their leftover cap room. That cap room certainly gives Detroit more financial flexibility in trade talks, but not necessarily significantly more.

Eastern Notes: Yabusele, Cayette-Wilson, Hornets, Valanciunas

August 12th, 2024 at 8:05pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Former Celtic forward Guerschon Yabusele, one of the top players on France’s Olympic team, wants to return to the NBA. Don’t expect Boston to make a run at him, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss writes.

Yabusele played two seasons with Boston after being drafted in the first round in 2016. Yabusele has a $2.5MM buyout in the final year of his contract with Real Madrid. The Celtics already have a similar player in Xavier Tillman and even minimum deals would result in a hefty luxury tax penalty for a franchise above the second tax apron.

We have more from the Eastern Conference:

Shelly Cayette-Weston, the Hornets’ new president of business operations, said that renovations for the team’s Spectrum Center are on schedule. “It’s a two-phase process, so that’s going to be a little interesting,” Cayette-Weston told Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “We’re going to have Phase 1 that opens this October, and then we’re going to go and do a lot more work even next summer. So, I want them to also prepare that it is a multi-phase summer project. But I think when they come in, still they’re going to immediately see some new clubs, some new spaces, you think about the entrance when you walk in and that plaza area.”
The Hornets have announced that their new health and performance staff will be led by Trent Salo, Boone tweets. Salo worked for the Pistons over the last seven seasons. Matthew Tuttle has been named director of sports medicine and Bryce Daub has the title of director of athletic performance. Quinton Sawyer has been promoted to head athletic trainer.
Jonas Valanciunas ranks as one of the league’s all-time best rebounders, Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network notes. Valanciunas has the ninth-best career rebound percentage (20.56%) in NBA history and the eighth-best defensive rebound percentage (29.05%). He’s also an efficient scorer who likes to set up in the post, giving the Wizards a different look. Valanciunas was acquired from the Pelicans in a sign-and-trade transaction.

Pistons Guards Have Much To Prove

August 11th, 2024 at 9:08pm CST by Dana Gauruder

To varying degrees, Pistons guards Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser have something to prove this upcoming season, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press writes. Cunningham received a max rookie scale extension and he’ll need to show his late-season surge is closer to his norm. Ivey has to be more efficient, coming off a disappointing sophomore campaign, and improve defensively. Sasser needs to show he’s worthy of being the main backup at the point.

Pistons Need To Clarify Isaiah Stewart's Role

August 7th, 2024 at 7:03pm CST by Arthur Hill

The most significant question facing the Pistons heading into training camp will be how to use Isaiah Stewart, who’s entering the first season of a four-year, $60MM extension, says Keith Langlois of NBA.com. Langlois notes that Stewart played primarily at power forward last season, but Detroit has limited options on its front line, so Stewart may be the primary backup to center Jalen Duren even if he’s in the starting lineup. Simone Fontecchio and newly signed Tobias Harris are both capable of being stretch fours in smaller lineups, Langlois adds.

Eastern Notes: Lee, Peterson, Hornets, Ivey, Duren, White, Pullin

August 7th, 2024 at 10:42am CST by Tristan Tucker

After speaking with more than 10 candidates, the Hornets decided on Charles Lee to be the franchise’s next head coach, having been won over by Lee’s basketball and business backgrounds, as well as his experience in player development and championship history, according to executive vice president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson, who spoke to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov about Lee and the state of the Hornets.

“His tactical skills are great,” Peterson said of Charlotte’s new head coach. “He’s a champion. He’s won two championships. Which, obviously, there’s a premium on just being a winner, and he has that. And he’s just an amazing teacher and communicator. He’s going to do his best just to get everything he can out of each player. That’s a big reason why I went with him as well.”

This offseason, the Hornets continued supplementing their young core by adding Tidjane Salaun with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft. He joins young talent like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, who were among the best players in their respective draft classes.

“[Salaun] loves being in the gym, loves to get better and loves the process,” Peterson said. “So, again, we can sleep at night knowing that he has those qualities, and then, not to mention, he has some skill to him, too. He can rebound and push. He can make his shot. So, we’re just really excited about, more than anything, his mindset and his approach to how we’re going to progress and build this thing out.”

We have more from the Eastern Conference:

The Pistons have never had three players in three consecutive seasons earn rookie scale contract extensions, but that could change next year when Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren become eligible. James L. Edwards III of The Athletic details the fascinating seasons ahead for the young duo, who are playing for a front office that didn’t draft them, a team looking to be active in trades and their third head coach in as many years. Their situation is particularly tricky because if they show significant growth, it would make sense for the organization to keep them. But if either or both players stagnate, their trade value will be hampered compared to what it is now, Edwards opines. How they’re used will be worth monitoring closely ahead of the February trade deadline.
Entering his sixth season in the NBA after a year in which he was a Most Improved Player finalist, Bulls guard Coby White is transitioning to a leadership role for a franchise that looks to be getting younger, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes. White cited DeMar DeRozan‘s leadership style as a model he wants to emulate. “DeMar always led by example,” White said. “He wasn’t always the loudest guy in the room or most talkative guy in the room. But if we had a meeting, he was early. If we had a bus time, he was one of the first ones there. He was never late to a meeting. He was always ready to go. When the game came, it was always about business. And the way he took me, [Ayo Dosunmu], [Dalen Terry], Pat [Williams] under his wing, it shed light on the things that I’m looking forward to when I get older. And that can start now for me.“
Zyon Pullin has had an unorthodox start to his NBA career after going undrafted out of Florida. He earned a two-way deal immediately from the Heat but was waived to make room for Josh Christopher. This week, he was re-signed to an Exhibit 10 deal, signaling Miami still wants him in the organization. Ira Winderman of South Florida Sun Sentinel thinks Pullin will have an opportunity to compete for a two-way deal this fall. As we detailed on Tuesday, that may be an uphill battle, as he’d have to beat out Isaiah Stevens, Dru Smith and possibly Alondes Williams for that final spot. Smith is currently under contract in that two-way slot, while Williams is an unrestricted free agent. Pullin and Stevens are both on Exhibit 10 deals.

And-Ones: Broadcasting Deals, Fredette, Budinger, Free Agent Analysis

August 5th, 2024 at 5:37pm CST by Dana Gauruder

A handful of NBA teams are making contingency plans for local broadcasting deals during the upcoming season. If Diamond Sports Group emerges from bankruptcy in the coming weeks or months, the company has discussed eliminating the RSN contracts for as many as five of its NBA teams — the Pelicans, Thunder, Grizzlies, Mavericks and Pistons, Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal reports.

The decision is fluid, Friend adds, who hears the number could drop to three teams. Those five franchises are aware of the situation and most likely will offer their games over-the-air for free, if necessary. They would also each add a direct-to-consumer digital product.

We have more news from around the basketball world:

The USA’s 3×3 team in the Olympics failed to challenge for medal contention at the Paris Olympics. Adding injury to insult, its most prominent member — former NBA guard Jimmer Fredette — suffered an adductor tear that will require a six-month recovery period, Eurohoops.net relays. Fredette revealed the injury on social media. “I had an injury that took place in the beginning minutes of our second game against Poland,” he wrote. “I tore two different ligaments completely in my adductor, which prevented me from being able to compete. This will lead me to have a recovery of around six months.”
Another former NBA player, Chase Budinger, had his dreams of an Olympic medal dashed on Monday. Budinger and his beach volleyball partner, Miles Evans, won their first match against a duo from France but then lost to the Netherlands and Spain before falling to Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, the defending gold medalists from Tokyo. Budinger will still cherish the memories, per ESPN News Services. “Playing in the Olympics, playing in this venue, will definitely be up there with some of my greatest basketball moments, for sure,” Budinger said.
Will the Kyle Anderson and Isaiah Hartenstein additions prove disappointing to the Warriors and Thunder, respectively? Will Tyus Jones and Chris Paul end up as the biggest bargains in free agency? The Athletic’s Josh Robbins, Kelly Iko and Darnell Mayberry provide their insights and opinions on the free agent moves and trades made during this offseason.

Free Press Ranks Pistons No. 12 In East

August 4th, 2024 at 7:09pm CST by Dana Gauruder

In his Eastern Conference power rankings, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press places the Pistons at No. 12 — ahead of the Hornets, Nets and Wizards. While Detroit endured its worst season in franchise history, it shouldn’t be the worst team in the conference next season after a series of offseason moves. Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley should significantly upgrade the outside shooting, Sankofa notes, and Paul Reed adds depth at center. The team’s young core should continue to grow, particularly Cade Cunningham with more help around him.

Community Shootaround: Pistons’ Offseason Moves

August 4th, 2024 at 5:34pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Troy Weaver‘s four-year stint running the Pistons was a flop but he did gift his successor, Trajan Langdon, with over $60MM in salary cap space this summer.

Detroit’s new president of basketball operations didn’t make any blockbuster deals, nor did he accumulate many future assets. Instead, Langdon mainly chose to bring in veteran help on short-team deals to make the team more competitive while easing the burden on the team’s star, Cade Cunningham.

The most significant transaction was bringing in free agent Tobias Harris on a two-year, $52MM deal. Harris, 32, wasn’t the difference-maker the Sixers hoped he would be when they signed him to a five-year, $180MM contract in 2019, but he’s a solid, durable and productive starter.

Langdon took on Tim Hardaway Jr.‘s $16.2MM salary in a trade with Dallas with three future second-rounders attached as sweeteners. Free agent Malik Beasley was signed to a one-year, $6MM deal and restricted free agent Simone Fontecchio was brought back on a two-year, $16MM contract.

That quartet should dramatically improve the team’s woeful perimeter shooting while tapping into Cunningham’s play-making ability. They’ll also greatly boost the professionalism for a team that endured the worst season in franchise history. It’s quite possible some of the veterans will be flipped for assets during the season.

Detroit also claimed big man Paul Reed off waivers, though his contract doesn’t become full guaranteed until midseason.

The other major move, unrelated to the cap, was firing Monty Williams and hiring J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach. Bickerstaff was eager to get another coaching job after getting fired by the Cavaliers. Williams had to be coaxed by owner Tom Gores into coaching last season via a lucrative six-year contract. Gores was willing to eat the remaining years on Williams’ contract in order to give Langdon and the organization a fresh start.

The Pistons only have 13 players on guaranteed deals and still have around $10.2MM in cap space, so it seems likely Langdon will make another free agent move or trade before training camp.

Langdon swung for the fences in the lottery, choosing Ron Holland with the fifth overall pick, which many experts considered a reach. The Pistons front office hopes Holland, who played well in the Las Vegas Summer League, can develop his offensive game to match his physical skills.

That brings us to our topic of the day: How do you view the Pistons’ offseason? Should they have made a bigger splash or added more assets? Or was Langdon wise to use his cap room to bring in veteran players on short-term deals?

Please take to the comments section to weigh on this topic. We look forward to your input.

Sixers, Cavs Among Teams In Mix For Marcus Morris

August 2nd, 2024 at 8:58am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran forward Marcus Morris remains unsigned over a month into free agency, but it sounds like he has no shortage of options. Sources tell Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer that the Sixers, Cavaliers, Hornets, Pistons, Heat, Pelicans, and Timberwolves have all shown some level of interest in Morris.

According to Pompey, Philadelphia and Cleveland appear to be the most likely landing spots for Morris. The Sixers are the 34-year-old’s hometown team and could use a power forward, but they’re limited to offering a minimum-salary contract. Morris finished last season with the Cavaliers, who are willing to offer him nearly double the minimum salary, sources tell Pompey.

Morris said that he “really enjoyed” his time in Cleveland and referred to the organization as “top-notch,” but also admitted he likes the idea of returning to his hometown team in Philadelphia.

“It felt like it was something that just helped my career,” Morris said of playing for the Sixers earlier in the 2023/24 season. “You know sometimes you’ve been doing it for so long that you find different things that get you up for playing. Being home is one of those things for me. … I just felt so free. I just felt so much love. So it’s like, yeah, man, I would definitely entertain coming back. I just hope … we can get something going hopefully.”

As Pompey explains, the 76ers currently have 13 players on standard contracts and will likely keep a 15-man roster spot open to start the regular season, so they’ll likely add just one more player. It’s unclear if Morris is their top target. Sources tell The Inquirer that Philadelphia also has some interest in sharpshooting power forward Davis Bertans.

As for the Cavs, this is just my speculation, but they may want resolution on Isaac Okoro‘s restricted free agency before they move forward with other free agents. Whether they re-sign Okoro or sign-and-trade him, resolving his situation would give them a better idea of where their team salary stands relative to the luxury tax line and tax aprons.

As Morris weighs his options and waits for offers, he tells Pompey that he’s willing to be patient as he prioritizes finding the right fit.

“I know the game. I’ve been around 14 years. I’m still playing,” the veteran forward said. “I just want to come in and help a team, be a voice, be a vet, but still compete at a high level. I also want to be somewhere I already know what the team needs. I want to be a piece that’s versatile and playing, either starting or coming off (the bench), and helping younger guys and things like that.

“… I’m just taking my time, because everybody needs a vet that can still play and (be a part of a) good situation in the locker room. I’m just taking my time to see what comes to be, what’s good for both sides.”