Pistons: 3 targets in NBA free agency to pair with Cade Cunningham
By Duncan Smith
The Detroit Pistons are in restoration mode after more than a decade in the NBA wilderness, and that’s thanks in large part to selecting Cade Cunningham first overall in last week’s draft.
Cunningham may be just the kind of star that can fast-track a return to glory for this once-great franchise, and he may also be the kind of star that may entice players in NBA free agency. As a playmaker, he may quickly be able to make his teammates better, even at his young age.
Let’s take a look at three potential free agent targets who may be in the mix for the Pistons when free agency begins on Monday at 6PM EST.
Pistons targets in NBA free agency to pair with Cade Cunningham: 1. Nerlens Noel
The Detroit Pistons are suddenly a bit thin at center after trading Mason Plumlee to the Charlotte Hornets, and according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Nerlens Noel is a name on their list to replace him.
The Pistons are in a quartet of interested teams, including the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks. He would be a defensive force at the center position, coming off a season where he averaged 2.2 blocks per game in just 24.2 minutes per outing. On a team with plenty of length and defensive intelligence, Noel could be the finishing touch on one of the league’s best young defensive squads.
He should also come in at a number well below the $17.5 million in cap space that the Pistons expect to have available, which doesn’t hurt his chances in free agency.