Detroit Pistons: 5 affordable free agent options
By Amaar Burton
The Detroit Pistons don’t have a lot of money to spend in free agency, but there are some affordable players on the market who can help the team going forward.
It’s bad enough for an NBA team to finish the season near the bottom of the league in victories, as the Detroit Pistons (39-43) did on their way to missing the playoffs again in 2018.
It may be just as bad for a team to start the offseason near the bottom of the league in salary cap space. The Pistons are also one of those teams.
With so many franchises and fanbases feeling the excitement and optimism of free agency — given the opportunity to acquire stars, superstars and difference-makers who can inject new life into their respective arenas — the Pistons are going into the summer of 2018 like this:
Detroit Pistons in free agency like pic.twitter.com/R87SipFZCE
— Ku (@KuKhahil) June 17, 2018
According to Spotrac.com, the Pistons are already $16 million over the salary cap for the 2018-19 season. The team has nine players under contract; 10 if you count Reggie Bullock, whose $2.5 million team option will almost assuredly be exercised. Eric Moreland and Dwight Buycks also have relatively cheap team options that might be picked up.
Plus, the Pistons just added two quality second-rounders in the 2018 NBA Draft: shooting guards Bruce Brown Jr. and Khyri Thomas.
The Pistons don’t have much (if any) room to operate with without hitting the luxury tax threshold. The team could try to pick up a player in free agency if it really wants to … just don’t get your hopes up thinking Detroit is going to make a run at LeBron James or Paul George.
Here are five affordable free agents the Pistons should consider.