The Detroit Pistons didn’t follow the free agency outline many expected.
In separate deals on Friday, they acquired 6-foot-6 sharpshooter Joe Harris, 6-1 point guard Monte Morris, two future second-round picks and $2.1 million in cash in exchange for Balsa Koprivica’s draft rights, a future second-round pick and $110,000. Nearly all of their $30 million in cap space was absorbed by the salaries for Harris ($19.9 million) and Morris ($9.8 million). They still have their $7.7 million room exception, but it was a quiet, asset-minded series of moves by the front office.
They didn’t bring in a big name such as Cameron Johnson or Kyle Kuzma, but their moves open the door for them to make a big talent upgrade sooner rather than later. Here are three observations on their free agency period thus far:
They have far more flexibility in the trade market
Following Friday’s moves, the focus has shifted to the 2024 free agency class. The Pistons could open around $60 million in cap space next summer after acquiring Harris and Morris, both of which are on expiring contracts, and could be a major player in a class that includes Pascal Siakam, Dejounte Murray and Domantas Sabonis.
But they may not have to wait that long. The Pistons now have multiple veterans on reasonable, expiring contracts in Harris ($19.9 million), Burks ($10.5 million) and Morris ($9.8 million) — positioning them to be players at the trade deadline, or even this offseason. Bojan Bogdanovic ($20 million) can also be considered an expiring contract, as only $2 million of his $19 million owed in 2024-25 is guaranteed.
The Pistons could simply opt to flip those players at the deadline in exchange for more assets. Contending teams always need shooting and playmaking, and they can take on bad salaries for draft picks or young talent. But they can also take a bigger swing, should they wish to double-down on a playoff push.
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We can use the Atlanta Hawks’ recent trade of John Collins as an example. Collins signed a five-year, $125 million extension in 2021 after establishing himself as an athletic, sweet-shooting two-way forward. But after a down year, Atlanta traded him to the Utah Jazz last week in exchange for Rudy Gay’s expiring $6.4 million contract and a future second-round pick. The move gave the Hawks significant financial relief, dropping them beneath the luxury tax threshold. And the Jazz gave up little to acquire a versatile forward who will help them win games next season.
The Pistons are unlikely to be a top destination in free agency, so they could instead look to do their shopping early and trade for star talent at the deadline.
It remains to be seen if the Pistons’ conservative approach will help them enter the playoff conversation next season. But they acquired two good veterans on good contracts who fill immediate needs, and could help facilitate a more substantial move down the road.
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Harris and Morris upgrade shooting, playmaking
It has been lost in the fuss about what the Pistons’ free agency period is what kind of players they acquired without giving up many assets via trade.
Harris is a career 43.7% 3-point shooter who should play significant minutes at the wing position. He had two ankle surgeries during the 2021-22 season and saw his workload reduced last season, but he’s otherwise played at least 69 games in five of his last six seasons and has been reliable and efficient.
Morris has developed into an all-around player and solid point guard. The Flint native and 2013 Mr. Basketball of Michigan averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game last season while shooting 48% overall and 38.2% from 3 — right in line with his career averages. He’s also exceptionally good at taking care of the ball, averaging less than a turnover a game through six seasons.
The Phoenix Suns improved from 19 to 34 wins during Monty Williams’ first season as head coach in 2019-20. The Suns were thrusted by the superstar play of Devin Booker, but Williams also pinpointed veteran point guard Ricky Rubio as a factor behind their rapid improvement.
“I thought the Ricky Rubio signing was huge,” Williams told the Free Press after his introductory news conference in June. “You look back at it, getting Ricky at the time we got him, that allowed for Book to have a veteran point guard that knew what he was doing in the backcourt. Really helped us.”
Morris will fill that role for the Pistons, but his presence prompts more questions about the point guard rotation.
There’s some roster rebalancing to be done
The Pistons now have five players who can play point guard — Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes, Marcus Sasser and Morris. Along with Alec Burks, it’s a group that goes three deep at both guard spots, assuming Sasser is ready for minutes next season as a rookie. But there’s not playing time for all six.
Hayes is extension eligible and a year away from restricted free agency, but the Pistons have made moves that call his future into question. In consecutive weeks, they’ve addressed his primary position via the draft and trade market. Cunningham’s shin injury guaranteed a significant role for Hayes last season. There are no such guarantees this year.
Burks and Morris are two of the best shooters on the roster, and Sasser was one of college basketball’s best shooters as a junior and senior. It makes all three of them easy fits next to Cunningham and Ivey, who will both attract plenty of attention from opposing defenses. Hayes remains one of Detroit’s best passers and defenders, but his poor outside shooting (28% last season, 27.4% for his career) and lack of foul drawing limits him as a scorer.
The Pistons could look to trade one or both of Burks or Morris. Or, they could allow training camp battles to dictate next season’s rotation.
Hayes, in spurts, did flash improved shot-making last season. But the team, as currently built, can no longer prioritize developmental minutes for him. They’ve added a point guard who can help the team win now (Morris), and one who they believe will develop into a two-way force (Sasser). Where Hayes factors into the team’s overarching plan is now unclear.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons free agency thoughts: Could a big trade be coming?
