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Detroit Pistons: Caldwell-Pope could get big money from Brooklyn Nets

By Zac Snyder

Dec 23, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) celebrates after making a three point basket during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) celebrates after making a three point basket during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Keeping Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is likely be pricey for the Detroit Pistons. It may be the Brooklyn Nets who end up setting the price tag.

Barring a blockbuster trade, the big focus of the Detroit Pistons offseason is what will happen with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. When the clock strikes midnight and Friday rolls over into Saturday, NBA free agency will be on and KCP will be a restricted free agent.

The Pistons and Caldwell-Pope never made progress on a new contract ahead of free agency and so both sides will see the market set his value. As a restricted free agent, KCP can agree to an offer sheet with any team, but the Pistons will have the right to match to keep him a Piston.

Opinions on Caldwell-Pope may be mixed among fans in Detroit but he’ll be a popular player on the free agent market. That, combined with a salary cap that has risen significantly in recent years means KCP is in line for big money. Whether that means a max contract or a near-max deal remains to be seen.

According to Marc Stein, a big offer could be coming from the Brooklyn Nets, who are apparently also eyeing Otto Porter.

A max or near-max deal would take the Pistons over the salary cap but team owner Tom Gores has said that is something he is willing to do to keep the young and improving Caldwell-Pope.

The Pistons are still a young team, although their growth trajectory took a big hit this past season as the team landed in the Draft Lottery instead of making a return to the NBA Playoffs. The questions Stan Van Gundy and the front office will have to wrestle with is how much Caldwell-Pope figures as part of the solution in Detroit and at what cost their willing to keep him.

Next: 20 Best NBA Draft Picks from Michigan State

At the contract level on the horizon for KCP, the Pistons should be very confident in his ability to be one of the foundational pieces. That being said, the team isn’t well positioned to deal with the loss of KCP either. In the end, expect the Pistons to retain Caldwell-Pope – it’s just a matter of how painful it will be to do so.

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