The Detroit Pistons will have some money to spend when NBA free agency opens this weekend. Here are some players they should target.
The wild world of NBA free agency opens at midnight on Friday and this year should be as wild as ever. Big money is set to flow with the salary cap making a big jump with the influx of new television money.
That means just about every has money to spend as they look to fill holes and prices will be on the rise. The Detroit Pistons have some cap space to work with but it would take some roster moves to clear the kind of cap space the top free agents will command.
The Pistons have been linked to Atlanta Hawks big man Al Horford but landing him seems like a pipe dream considering the number of interested teams and the money it will take to secure his signature.
The top of the market may be out of the Pistons’ reach but they are still expected to be active participants, with particular interest in a backup point guard and power forward. Here are some options to consider.
Next: Jared Dudley
Jared Dudley
He wouldn’t be a free agent signing that most fans would get terribly excited over but Jared Dudley could prove a nice upgrade in the role that was held by Anthony Tolliver. Like Tolliver, Dudley brings and outside shot and defense while providing a good influence off the court for younger players.
Dudley isn’t a star but he understands his place on a team and the role he can play and does so admirably. He would be an upgrade over Tolliver but with that comes an additional financial commitment. Still, coming off a salary of $4.375 million, the money should be well within the Pistons’ budget.
The Pistons may want to get bigger at the four and Dudley doesn’t help in that regard, but he is a reliable three-point shooter. He has a career three point field goal percentage of 39.9% and shot 42.0% last season on 238 attempts.
Next: Marreese Speights
Marreese Speights
With a greater emphasis on other pursuits, it is likely Marreese Speights’ days with the Golden State Warriors are over. He has definite value as a scorer and rebounder off the bench and he would bring some much-needed size to the Pistons frontcourt.
Unless the Pistons play Andre Drummond and Aron Baynes at the same time, their four is generaly undersized. That’s not necessarily a problem with what Stan Van Gundy likes to do on offense but having the ability to matchup with a bigger lineup is a plus. Speights would give Van Gundy that ability while still having a four on the floor who has some shooting range.
Speights was 24-of-62 (38.7%) from three-point range last season – all career-highs. The Pistons would be wise to look ahead at their big man situation as Baynes holds a player option after next season and should be able to earn more money than the $6.5 million due on his option. Adding Henry Ellenson in the 2016 NBA Draft helps down the line but the Piston may still pursue more frontcourt size this summer.
The likelihood that someone over pays is high and it remains to be seen how much Speights’ offensive game was propped up by the Golden State Warriors’ wide open style of play on offense.
That could mean someone ends up with buyer’s remorse, but in the right role for the right price, Speights is an attractive option.
Next: Jaremy Lin
Jeremy Lin
There may be a team out there willing to throw big money at Jeremy Lin and make him their starting point guard but if the market is soft, he would make a lot of sense for the Pistons.
Like others who have bounced around the league, Lin is looking for stability in his next stop. He has mentioned playing time in his list of things he’s looking for while his free agency plays out, but hasn’t gone as far as saying a starting gig is a requirement.
Lin’s game has been up and down since “Linsanity” took the NBA world by storm in 2012 but he played very well down the stretch and in the playoffs for the Charlotte Hornets to leave NBA executives with a good final impression before he hits the open market.
The Pistons don’t have a starting point guard job available and the financials may prove prohibitive, but there may not be a better back up option who also can step in in the unfortunate case of an injury to Reggie Jackson. That’s nice added insurance, but would the Pistons be willing to pay for it?
Next: D.J. Augustin
D.J. Augustin
The Pistons could look to one of their old point guard to be their new backup point guard. They traded D.J. Augustin to the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Reggie Jackson and it makes sense to bring him back as the person to back up Jackson.
The Thunder went on to move Augustin to the Denver Nuggets and he reportedly would be interested in staying with the Nuggets, but he figures to receive considerable interest from quite a few teams in need of a backup point guard.
That could push the price tag north of what the Pistons want to pay and they will to weigh the cost of overpaying for Augustin versus whatever the cost would be for a lesser option.
Next: Shane Larkin
Shane Larkin
He’s not a name frequenting top free agent lists around the internet but Shane Larkin is an intriguing option if the Pistons opt for the young, long-cost route. He made $1.5 million last season and became a free agent by declining his $1.5 million player option for next season.
Larkin was originally a first round pick of the Atlanta Hawks but was sent to the Dallas Mavericks on the night of the 2012 NBA Draft. After a year in Dallas in which he bounced between the NBA and NBDL, he was traded to the New York Knicks then signed with the Brooklyn Nets
After bouncing around, Larkin is just looking for a place to call home, and if the Pistons have interest, they seem like a team that checks all the boxes:
"I’m not a guy who wants to play a 10-year career with eight different teams; I want to find a home and really lock in with a team where I know what the coach wants, what my teammates want and we can just all grow together."
No one playing for Stan Van Gundy should have any difficulty knowing where he stands and what is expected of him and the Pistons young core certainly offers an opportunity to grow together as the team looks to improve on their playoff appearance as an eighth seed. Larkin has also said he doesn’t care if he’s starting or coming off the bench.
"Whether I’m a starter or whatever, it’s cool either way. I just want to find a situation where a team wants to see me grow with them and not just [have me as] a fill-in. That’s the kind of situation I’d be looking for."
It remains to be see if the Pistons have interest but Larkin won’t break the bank, even in an offseason where funny money is expected to being flying. He’s young but has NBA experience, offering upside that other players the Pistons might look at to fill their backup point guard spot do not.
Next: Bring back Tolliver and/or Blake
Anthony Tolliver and Steve Blake
The Pistons will scour the free agent market looking for players who are upgrades and/or better long-term fits than Anthony Tolliver and Steve Blake but that doesn’t mean a return for either player is out of the question.
If the Pistons find a tough market, they could do worse than to bring back low-cost, familiar players. Tolliver and Blake bring veteran experience, familiarity and an understanding of how they fit into the overall Pistons picture.
Bringing one or both back as a fallback option buys the Pistons some time. It wouldn’t help the team take the next step forward, but it also wouldn’t stunt the team’s growth either.
Next: Pistons Summer League Roster Set
This list certainly isn’t exhaustive and it may be that interest from one side or the other is never reciprocated. Which players are you hoping the Pistons pursue when free agency opens this weekend? Let us know if the comments below or find us on Twitter.