Connect with us

Detroit, MI

3 predictions for what Detroit Pistons will do in 2024 NBA free agency

Published

on

3 predictions for what Detroit Pistons will do in 2024 NBA free agency


Detroit Pistons enter Sunday evening and the start of 2024 NBA free agency with the second-most cap space, behind only the big-fish hunting Philadelphia 76ers.

Not many other teams are swimming in cap space, positioning the Pistons for rare flexibility to serve as a dumping ground for unwanted salary in exchange for draft capital, and/or to take shots at luring a few mid-to-lower tier free agents by outbidding other cash-strapped teams.

The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, signed one year ago, restricts high-spending teams with numerous hard caps. Accordingly, the Pistons have already made two deals to take on salary, moving up 16 spots in the second round Thursday in exchange for taking on Wendell Moore Jr., and on Friday receiving three future second-round picks for acquiring Tim Hardaway Jr.’s overpriced contract and sending back Quentin Grimes.

Advertisement

With that in mind, here are some Pistons predictions for free agency, the first under new president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon:

THE PRIMER: Pistons in NBA free agency: Cap space priorities, 8 names to watch

Detroit Pistons free agency predictions

  • Re-sign Simone Fontecchio: The Pistons on Saturday tendered Fontecchio his $5.2 million qualifying offer, a procedural formality officially making him a restricted free agent. This allows the Pistons to match any offer sheet from another team that he signs. Although Fontecchio was acquired in February for the No. 31 pick and Gabriele Procida by the previous regime, led by Troy Weaver, he proved to be a solid addition to a Pistons team desperate for any semblance of a two-way wing. He shot 40.1% last season from 3-point range in 66 games between Utah and the Pistons. Any deal for around $15 million per year over three or four years is reasonable.
  • Don’t splurge on Tobias Harris or any other over 30 big name: Just because the Pistons have money to spend does not mean they should throw a gigantic bag at anyone who will take it — especially if that player is on the downside of their career. It would be a huge mistake to take on long-term salary in a trade, like Jerami Grant from Portland (four years, $132 million), or give out a mammoth three-year, $75ish million contract to a “big name” like Tobias Harris. The Pistons should focus on short-term money in any veteran trade, as they did in taking on Hardaway’s $16 million expiring salary, or shoot lower for a role player in free agency like New Orleans forward Naji Marshall, who has plenty of familiarity with Langdon, or a low-cost center like Goga Bitadze (for defense) or Moritz Wagner (for shooting). At his introductory news conference, Langdon said the Pistons would not “skip steps” — let’s see if that holds true in his debut free agency as a lead decision maker. There should be gems to find with the market potentially collapsing for solid bench players due to the CBA constraints.
  • Add more shooting: The Pistons once again eschewed 3-point shooting by drafting Holland. They must surround Cade Cunningham with a lights out 3-point threat. He’s currently saddled by several non-shooters in Holland, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren or those who don’t pull away defenders (Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart). The Pistons should look hard at Malik Beasley, Buddy Hield or Gary Harris, or go further down the free agent list to Luke Kennard or even Seth Curry. A one-year overpay might suffice for any of the first three names above, but a balloon payment for two years with a team option on the second year (like Indiana did with Bruce Brown Jr. last summer) would give the Pistons flexibility and greater salary matching ability to use in a future trade.

THE NEW GUY: Pistons abruptly hire J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach

When does NBA free agency start?

Free agency opens Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, with negotiations allowed between teams and all upcoming free agents. Deals can be can be signed officially starting Saturday at 12:01 p.m.

Advertisement

The top free agent is Paul George, with plenty of solid starters and depth pieces on the market, including James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Detroit Pistons 2024 free agents 

The Pistons have several free agents, both unrestricted and restricted.

  • Simone Fontecchio, restricted (Pistons can match any offer from another team)
  • Chimezie Metu, unrestricted
  • Evan Fournier, unrestricted
  • James Wiseman, unrestricted
  • Jared Rhoden, unrestricted
  • Jaylen Nowell, unrestricted
  • Malachi Flynn, unrestricted
  • Stanley Umude, unrestricted
  • Taj Gibson, unrestricted

Make “The Pistons Pulse” your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live/on demand on YouTube.

Want more updates on the Pistons? Download our app for the latest news, alerts, eNewspaper and more.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Detroit, MI

Pistons News: Malik Beasley Feels Detroit is ‘a Second Home’

Published

on

Pistons News: Malik Beasley Feels Detroit is ‘a Second Home’


Over the past years, Malik Beasley has suited up for countless different franchises across the NBA. His journeyman voyage continued this summer when he inked a one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons in free agency.

Through the first few weeks of the season, Beasley is looking like one of the best value signins of free agency. His outside shooting has provided a much-needed dynamic to Detroit’s offense, and he is putting up some of his best numbers in the process. Beasley is currently averaging 15.4 PPG and shooting 39.3% from beyond the arc on 9.1 attempts per game.

Along with having success on the court, Beasley seems to be enjoying his new life outside of basketball as well. During a recent appearance on The Detroit Pistons Podcast, the veteran sharpshooter opened up on how Detroit is a bit of a second home for him.

“My mom’s from here born and raised,” Beasley said. “My mom used to bring me out here every summer with my sister. To be out here right now playing for the Pistons is a dream come true. It’s like my second home…I’m just glad to be here.”

Advertisement

At the moment, Beasley finds himself in the midst of one of the best offensive streaks of his career. Despite shifting between the second unit and starting lineup, he has racked up five straight 20+ point performances. Beasley has notched a season-high 26 points on two occasions in the past week, once against the Milwauke Bucks and once against the Washington Wizards.

Between his complementary play on the court and being a veteran leader behind the scenes, Beasley has been a huge addition to the Pistons this season. His presence on and off the floor has been a catalyst to their impressive start to the year.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Family of well known Detroit-area pastor killed in crash questions why suspect was released

Published

on

Family of well known Detroit-area pastor killed in crash questions why suspect was released


A well-known Detroit-area pastor has died after police say he was struck by a car driven by an undocumented immigrant. Now his family is wondering why that driver was let go as they grieve. 

Advertisement

The word “Heartbreak” does not even begin to describe what Teri Singleton had been feeling in the days since losing her husband, 72-year-old Stephen Singleton.

“I had to sit and watch my husband of 53 years die in front of me and then to know that the person who did this is walking around is very difficult to deal with,” said Teri Singleton.

He was a well-known area pastor, who would do anything for anyone. Police say he was struck by an undocumented immigrant as he crossed the street in Rochester Hills earlier in November. Singleton died several days later.

Advertisement

“He had almost every bone in his body broken,” said Singleton. “He had his collarbone fractured, internal organ damage, and his skull was cracked. He had two craniotomies in the hospital.”

Family members say Pastor Singleton was a dedicated servant of god and a former medic who traveled to New York City to help injured victims of the 9/11 attacks. He gathered at a church there with other religious leaders to pray and spoke about it with FOX 2’s Amy Lange in September 2023.

Advertisement

“After everybody had prayed, he started saying the Lord’s Prayer, and he said it with a whisper, he said it with a shout, he said it with a sing, and then he said it with so much passion that it brought me to tears,” Stephen Singleton said. “I wanted to save somebody. That’s-bottomline.”

He also helped in the search for survivors. It would be local medics who would desperately try to save Singleton’s life after he was hit by a man driving a 2013 Ford Focus as he crossed Rochester Road at Avon. He had just gone for his usual morning walk.

“He’s been coming back within, I’ll say, 45 minutes at the most. He didn’t return. I was sitting there waiting,” said Teri Singleton. “I was actually less than a block away from where it happened.”

Advertisement

Detectives say that the driver was a citizen of Columbia. US Customs and Border Protection determined he entered the US illegally and was released pending a future date in federal court. That’s the most painful part for the pastor’s family.

“He’s dead and they’re walking around. That’s bothering me,” Teri said. 

Advertisement

For now, they continue their quest for justice…while staying in faith and love.

“I will not be angry because this has happened,” said Stephen’s daughter Ruth. “I refuse to be angry. I will still love like my Dad taught me to.”

They have also put together a Go-Fund-Me page, hoping to give Pastor Singleton the dignified send-off he deserves.

Advertisement

“He was a loving person who cared about everybody,” said Teri Singleton. “I mean, the whole neighborhood, everybody in our community has come to my door. They didn’t even see the name on the report, but they knew him because of his habits.”

FOX 2 has reached out to government sources to see exactly why the suspect was released and when the next court date will be. Police say Singleton was wearing a reflective vest and was walking in a properly marked cross-walk when he was hit. 

Advertisement

Police believe speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.
 



Source link

Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has been named the American League Cy Young award winner

Published

on

Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has been named the American League Cy Young award winner


Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has been named the American League Cy Young award winner.

Advertisement




Source link

Continue Reading

Trending