June is already here, meaning it won't be long before the NBA Finals are over and free agency begins. The Detroit Pistons will have a busy summer ahead of them when it comes to expiring contracts, as the following five veteran players are slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 6:
- Malik Beasley, SG
- Tim Hardaway Jr., SG
- Paul Reed, C
- Dennis Schroder, PG
- Lindy Waters III, SF/SG
Although the front office might potentially want to bring a handful of those names back, there's a chance that not every UFA will be re-signed. With most of those names being guards, the Pistons will likely be in the market for frontcourt help early in the offseason.
If that's the case, the perfect trade target to replace any potential departing name just became available.
Pistons Should Target Warriors SG/SF Brandin Podziemski After Latest Comments
One shooter who'd look great in the Pistons' backcourt is Golden State Warriors shooting guard/small forward Brandin Podziemski. Even though the former 2023 first-round pick might not officially be on the trade block, Podziemski sounds like he's already thinking about playing elsewhere early in his NBA career.
"Obviously, I want to be an All-Star, as soon as I can be, whether that’s with Steph and them here, or it’s when they’re done," Podziemski said on Tuesday's episode of "Up & Adams" on FanDuel TV. "And I just want to be a household name, somewhere where it can be me and a bunch of other guys winning a championship. That’d be kind of ideal for me."
With the Warriors' spotlight constantly on Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler, it isn't surprising to learn that Podziemski wants a bit more of the spotlight. The fact that he wants to win a title "somewhere" and didn't specifically name the Warriors suggests that he could be open to a fresh start in the Motor City.
With Beasley and Hardaway potentially leaving in a few weeks, trading for Podziemski would make either veteran's exit more digestible.
The ex-Santa Clara product is coming off a solid performance with Golden State that saw him average 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals with .445/.372/.758 shooting splits in 64 games (33 starts). He'd look great playing alongside facilitators like Cade Cunningham and a potentially re-signed Schroder.
The fact that Podziemski is still on his rookie contract and will only carry a $3.6 million cap hit next season is another bonus. A deal involving fellow 2023 first-rounder Marcus Sasser and a future draft pick could be enough to entice the Warriors to send the Greenfield, WI native to Detroit.
The Pistons are one of the brightest up-and-coming teams in the NBA, and could be the perfect catalyst to help take Podziemski's game to the next level. Even if the possibility of a trade is tiny, Detroit must call Golden State immediately or risk losing the talented sharpshooter to another suitor.