Jodie Meeks Requested Trade From Detroit Pistons
By Zac Snyder
The Detroit Pistons cleared some salary cap space by trading Jodie Meeks today, but Stan Van Gundy revealed that Meeks had requested a trade.
It turns out the narrative that the Detroit Pistons traded Jodie Meeks to the Orlando Magic to clear cap space isn’t entirely correct. That is still partly true, and certainly a benefit of the trade from the Pistons end, but Stan Van Gundy revealed this evening that the trade accommodated a request from Meeks and his agent.
SVG said #Pistons weren't going to give away Meeks, but he and his agent requested a deal due to glut of wings in roster
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) June 30, 2016
#Pistons SVG on Jodie Meeks: "He looked at all the guys out there and he wanted to go somewhere where he had a more defined role going in."
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) June 30, 2016
With Meeks off the books, the Pistons currently have the ability to have around $21 million in cap space when free agency opens on July 1. That means they can approach a max-level contract for someone like Al Horford, but more comments from Van Gundy make that sounds unlikely.
#Pistons SVG on more cap room: "You have to see where it goes. Just because you have the money doesn’t mean you want to spend it all."
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) June 30, 2016
That might be met with disappointment from some Pistons fans but big money is expected to be flying as a drastically rising salary cap means the amount of money available to be spent will be greater than the talent waiting to be signed. Some teams will surely overspend.
With high prices all over the free agent market, the cap space freed by trading Meeks is more likely to offer wiggle room more than anything else. SVG acknowledged that as well.
#Pistons SVG on Meeks cap space: "It gives us a little bit more margin, so if the numbers start to go up, you’ve got space to deal with."
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) June 30, 2016
Next: Players Pistons Should Target in Free Agency
Meeks was to be a big part of the team’s plans when he signed two years ago but those went out the window with injuries and other moves the team made. A mutual parting makes perfect sense.