Detroit, MI

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

Published

2 years ago

June 30, 2024

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.

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.

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

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions Sign QB Teddy Bridgewater To Backup Jared Goff in 2026

Published

10 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Lions Sign QB Teddy Bridgewater To Backup Jared Goff in 2026

The free agency tampering period has begun for the NFL, and the Detroit Lions are among the active teams acquiring players as they try to get back to the playoffs after they did not meet their own standard for last season.

On Monday, it was revealed that 2025 Lions backup quarterback Kyle Allen was heading to Buffalo, leaving another hole in the roster to fill. Nearly 24 hours later, that hole has been filled, as veteran quarterbackTeddy Bridgewater is heading back to Motown.

Bridgewater spent the 2023 season with Detroit, in what initially was going to be his final season in the league.

However, after coaching Miami Northwestern Senior High School to a state championship in Florida during the 2024 season, he announced he was planning to unretire, and Detroit picked him up for their push towards the top seed in the NFC.

Bridgewater then resigned as head coach at Miami Northwestern and signed with Tampa Bay to backup Baker Mayfield last season.

He appeared in four games last season, throwing 15 passes for the Buccaneers, which were his first NFL pass attempts since 2022.

Bridgewater is a safe option at backup quarterback in Detroit, as the former Rookie of the Year has had a steady career since entering the league with Minnesota out of Louisville in 2014.

Bridgewater returns to back up Jared Goff under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, as this is a situation where Detroit stuck with a player they knew. For Petzing, this is not the first time coaching Teddy Bridgewater, as he was an offensive assistant with Minnesota when they drafted Bridgewater in 2014.

A leg injury derailed his career after a Pro Bowl season in 2015, but he has started 37 games since the injury as a journeyman. Bridgewater left Minnesota and Drew Petzing and would overlap with Dan Campbell when the quarterback played for New Orleans in 2018 and 2019. In addition to Minnesota, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Detroit, Bridgewater has also played for Carolina, Denver, and Miami.

Detroit stuck with a safe and familiar option in Bridgewater, as a majority of their offense, alongside most of their offensive staff, have worked with the quarterback before. If Bridgewater is turned to in any situation, there will be full confidence in the Louisville product to make the right play.

NFL Draft Implications

This puts Detroit in a unique position when looking ahead towards the NFL Draft, as a popular mock draft pick for Detroit was taking a quarterback, with Cole Payton, Luke Altmyer, and Taylen Green all being among the names mentioned.

Bridgewater is an excellent mentor alongside Goff, but having three quarterbacks on the Lions roster after injury-riddled campaigns in the last two seasons may not be the wisest allocation of a roster spot.

For the time being, Detroit has their backup quarterback for the season, and there is not a better option than Bridgewater when it comes to familiarity and adaptability. While the former Pro Bowl quarterback has yet to throw a pass in Detroit, he has the familiairity and trust of the coaching staff to be a backup entering a pivotal year.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit ‘Sloppy Chops’ restaurateur\u00a0killed: What to know

Published

22 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

$Detroit ‘Sloppy Chops’ restaurateur\u00a0killed: What to know$

Mourning continued and no suspects were in custody a week after the fatal shooting of Detroit restaurateur and nightlife figure Mikey “Mike B” Brown at the end of February.

Brown was the beloved figure behind the “Sloppy” brand of restaurants, and remembrances have been rolling in online since his death.

Here’s what to know:

Shooting outside cocktail bar

“Mike B” Brown, 51, and two others were shot about 4:30 a.m. Feb. 28 in the area of 15789 Schaefer, police previously said.

The two others were found in front of the location, and Brown was found across the street, police said.

Police have asked those with information on the shooting to come forward.

There were no suspects in custody and no further updates in the case as of Monday, March 9, according to a statement from the Detroit Police Department.

Updates on the conditions of the two other individuals shot were also not provided.

Who was Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown?

Brown was a husband, a father of five and a restaurateur.

He opened Sloppy Chops Restaurant, a steakhouse, in 2020 on West McNichols off the Lodge Freeway and later opened a seafood restaurant called Sloppy Crab, which was renamed the Crab Sports Bar, on East Jefferson Avenue near the Renaissance Center. Brown previously had two clubs, as well.

His downtown dining spot served as an answer to questions on offerings for Black diners in the city’s renaissance. His other “Sloppy” location showcased successful reach beyond downtown and into the city’s neighborhoods. Brown was also a cultural figure in not only the world of dining, but in the nightlife, the Free Press reported.

When are funeral services for Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown?

A family hour was set for 9 a.m. March 13 and a funeral was set for 10 a.m. March 13, both at Triumph Church –North Campus at 15600 J.L. Hudson Drive in Southfield.

What’s been the fallout since Mike ‘Mike B’ Brown’s death?

Outside of the community hurt, there’s also been calls for a crackdown on establishments that stay open into early morning hours in residential areas, ClickOnDetroit reports.

How to report tips on Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown’s shooting

Those with information tied to the triple shooting can contact the Detroit Police Department’s homicide unit at 313-596-2260 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up or DetroitRewards.tv.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions need backup QB as Kyle Allen to sign with Bills

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Lions need backup QB as Kyle Allen to sign with Bills

The Detroit Lions will need to find a new backup quarterback. Kyle Allen, the 30-year-old ninth-year veteran, will reportedly sign with the Buffalo Bills for two years and $4.1 millions, according to ESPN, reuniting him with his former coordinator Joe Brady.

Allen, who came to the Motor City a year ago after inking a one-year deal, appeared in just three games and attempted two passes this past season as starter Jared Goff logged 98.5% of the team’s offensive snaps at quarterback.

Allen’s greatest contribution came in the preseason, when he forced the organization to give up on its experiment with Hendon Hooker.

In the competition for the No. 2 job, Allen outperformed Hooker and made the former 2023 third-round pick expendable by bringing his stunted development into sharp relief. While Hooker struggled to move the offense when he was in command, Allen thrived in his four auditions, spearheading one productive drive after another for the Lions. He completed 79.5% of his attempts, throwing for 401 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. All the while, he exhibited a good understanding of the Lions’ timing-based passing game, giving management the confidence he could – if needed – relieve Goff in a pinch.

“I feel very comfortable with him,” Campbell said last August.

But as it turned out, the Lions were never forced to call upon Allen. Goff, who hasn’t missed a start since Week 17 of the 2021 season, remained reliably present.

The Lions hope Goff’s iron-man streak will continue.

But if it for some reason ends, Allen is no longer there to replace him.

Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Follow him @RainerSabin on X.

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