Detroit Pistons sign floor-spacing center Kelly Olynyk

The Detroit Pistons didn’t take long to get in on the fun in Free Agency.  General manager (GM) Troy Weaver has found a replacement for Mason Plumlee.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Detroit Pistons have agreed to a three-year deal with veteran center Kelly Olynyk.

If I’m being candid, I’m a little shocked by this deal.  Not the signing, more about the money. But the organization needed to add some more shooters.

General manager Troy Weaver decided to trade starting center Mason Plumlee on draft night to free up some additional cap space, and he decided to spend more on Olynyk than Plumlee was set to make.

The Detroit Pistons have signed a floor-spacing big in free agency.

Over the weekend, rumors surfaced that the organization was interested in Olynyk and New York Knicks center Nerlens Noel.  Noel is more of a rim protector and defensive-minded.

Olynyk is more of a floor spacer and won’t shy away from knocking down a three-point shot.  He and rookie Cade Cunningham should thrive running the pick-and-roll next season.  I still expect second-year center Isaiah Stewart to have a significant role, and the two should complement each other nicely.

Olynyk has shot 36.7% from beyond the arc throughout his career, which is very efficient for a center.

The 30-year old enjoyed a career year averaging 13.5 points per game between Houston and Miami.  Olynyk averaged a spectacular 19 points per game over 27 contests with a depleted Rockets roster, but just 10 points during 43 games with the Heat.

The signing came just minutes after we found out that Noel was re-upping with the Knicks, signing a three-year extension worth $32-million.

Needless to say, I feel Noel’s deal was a bit more team-friendly than the $37 million Olynyk signed with the Detroit Pistons.

Nothing against Olynyk; he’s a nice player, but is he really worth more money than Mason Plumlee?

The Pistons moved on from Plumlee, who was just about to enter the second year of his three-year deal signed just a year ago.

Olynyk is certainly a better scorer, but again, is he worth $4 million per season more than Plumlee?  Plumlee averaged 10.4 points, 9.3 boards, and 3.6 assists per game with Detroit last season.

Plumlee proved to be a surprising piece for the Pistons last season, and many of us, myself included, had been underwhelmed with his contract last year.  Perhaps Olynyk will surprise us in the same way in 2021-22.