Pistons: Where DET stands on the third day of NBA free agency
By Duncan Smith
Where the Pistons stand in NBA free agency: Who’s new to Detroit?
With Plumlee, Ellington, Sirvydis and Cook gone, the Pistons have added Kelly Olynyk and Trey Lyles via free agency. Olynyk was their first transaction once free agency began, and the Pistons signed him to a three-year, $37 million contract with a team option in year three. The Pistons struggled to get up 3-pointers last season, and Olynyk should do wonders for this squad on that end.
They get him for a team-friendly price point with future contract optionality, as well.
Trey Lyles was an interesting acquisition for $5 million on a two-year deal. Apparently, he has some bad blood with the city of Detroit (and to be fair, after my basement flooded recently, so do I), but a player like Lyles will take what comes his way in free agency.
Last season Lyles averaged 5.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for the San Antonio Spurs on shooting splits of 48-35-65. He played 15.6 minutes per game in 23 appearances with nine starts.
As for Joseph, who gets to appear in both the departures and the newcomers categories, he was outstanding in the final couple months of the season after the Pistons traded for him before the deadline. He’ll be duly rewarded for that with this contract.