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Detroit Pistons: Looking for Point Guards in Free Agency

By Joseph Wooley

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 30: Former Detroit Piston Isiah Thomas talks to Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons after a celebration of the 1989 and 1990 World Championship Detroit Pistons at halftime during a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 30, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 30: Former Detroit Piston Isiah Thomas talks to Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons after a celebration of the 1989 and 1990 World Championship Detroit Pistons at halftime during a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 30, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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D’Angelo Russell is another fun player to watch. He is a great scorer, especially beyond the arc. Despite not getting to the rim quite as often as Jackson, he draws more fouls and finds more rebounds, though he does have the tendency to turn the ball over.

After being underutilized with the Lakers, Russell qualified for an All-Star team his second season with the Nets, and his first full season back from injury. He is a restricted free agent, and he should take Brooklyn’s qualifying offer, which makes him a bit of a pipe dream as well. Still, the former #2 overall draft pick would be a phenomenal get for the Pistons.

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On the other hand, Russell’s positional counterpart in Brooklyn, Spencer Dinwiddie, is an unrestricted free agent, and thus slightly more realistic. The former Piston was drafted by Detroit in 2014 and played in 46 games before being involved in a non-essential trade that eventually sent him to Brooklyn.

Since then, he has grown into an absolute Piston killer. Against his former team, he has averaged 14 points per game. Most notably, he hit a three-point dagger in overtime with Andre Drummond staring him down to win the game last Halloween. The Pistons would welcome him back just to erase games like that.

Dinwiddie is not as good of a shooter than Jackson or Smith, but he is a better passer. He also shoots the three-point shot at a better rate than Smith. If the Pistons elect not to bring back Smith, Dinwiddie would make a reliable backup to Jackson. If we are thinking of former Pistons, at least Dinwiddie would be a more fun experiment than bringing back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is also a free agent and really more of a two-guard anyway.

Next. Looking at the two playoff teams of this decade. dark

Once we know what the Pistons will do with their existing players, of course, we will have a better understanding of where they will go. They will likely not resign Calderon at $2.4 million, and $6 million may be too rich for Ish Smith. If the team looks elsewhere, there is a healthy list of free agent point guards. The Detroit Pistons will have their pick–if they can pay.

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