Detroit Pistons: 3 reasons keeping Reggie Bullock is a good move
By Amaar Burton
3. Team-friendly salary
The Pistons went into this offseason already over the salary cap for 2018-19, with very little money to spend before hitting the league’s luxury tax threshold.
Stefanski and the front office have done a good job working within that tight window. First, the team signed athletic small forward Glenn Robinson III to a reasonable two-year deal worth $8 million. Robinson is talented enough to challenge for a spot in the starting lineup.
More from Detroit Pistons
- NBA Trades: Spurs can add a recent lottery pick in this deal with Pistons
- Detroit Pistons draft odds: What are the chances of landing the #1 pick?
- Were the Golden State Warriors right to give up on James Wiseman?
- Ranking the top 18 shooters available on NBA trade market
- Jalen Duren has all the tools to be a star for the Detroit Pistons
Then Detroit signed 36-year-old point guard Jose Calderon and 34-year-old center Zaza Pachulia to one-year deals for the veteran’s minimum. Calderon’s accurate shooting and basketball IQ should be helpful. Pachulia’s toughness, championship experience and allegedly (legitimately?) dirty play could give the Pistons a needed edge.
Those additions left the Pistons with enough room to sign rookie guards Bruce Brown Jr. and Khyri Thomas, two second round draft picks with first round talent and intriguing potential.
One move left to make was to pick up the option on Bullock’s contract, and it was the right move. Bullock came to Detroit in a trade from the Phoenix Suns in 2015. Last summer, he re-upped with the team on a two-year deal worth $5 million, with a team option for the second year.
While Bullock was brought to Detroit by since-fired coach and president Stan Van Gundy, he should fit in well with what Casey and Stefanski are building, and he was available at the right price for a franchise that didn’t have a lot of money to throw around.