(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
If Christian Wood leaves in free agency, the Detroit Pistons approach to the offseason may change. We examine five realistic options to target.
When your prime free agency target asks Instagram Live viewers where he should go, the panic level of a franchise inevitably rises. Christian Wood did just that recently. Between that and the logistics involved in re-signing him, the Detroit Pistons need to have a Plan B for the upcoming offseason.
Any discussion of the Pistons’ future has to begin with the reality of their salary cap situation. Sure, they have money to spend, but they are ultimately limited by Blake Griffin’s massive contract. Griffin has a player option for next season so his albatross of a deal almost certainly won’t end until the summer of 2022.
Combine that reality with a depleted roster and it’s clear that Detroit’s rebuilding process won’t truly begin until 2022-2023.
The number one priority for new general manager Troy Weaver must be maintaining cap flexibility for the next two years. That means signing free agents who won’t take up much cap space on shorter-term deals. There is little to no value in limiting the team’s flexibility while Griffin is still under contract.
Maintaining some level of cap space is essential. Very few teams have cap space so the Pistons are a natural trading partner to take on bad contracts while receiving assets to do so.
So the focus should be on signing younger players to shorter, cheaper contracts. These players have more room to develop and can potentially be used as trade pieces when their deals expire.
There are a number of restricted free agents that may appeal to Detroit, but teams would be likely to match offer sheets on guys like Jakob Poeltl, Kris Dunn, and Torrey Craig. Still, it might make sense for the Pistons to sign those types of free agents to force other teams to pay money and then clean up later in the offseason when other teams have less money to spend.
Realistically, Detroit isn’t going to sign any valuable role players. Those players tend to either get overpaid, which the Pistons need to avoid, or they sign with contenders. With that in mind, here are five options you might see Troy Weaver target this offseason.
Detroit Pistons</a> need to have a Plan B for the upcoming offseason.</p>
<p>Any discussion of the Pistons’ future has to begin with the reality of their salary cap situation. Sure, they have money to spend, but they are ultimately limited by Blake Griffin’s massive contract. Griffin has a player option for next season so his albatross of a deal almost certainly won’t end until the summer of 2022.</p>
<p>Combine that reality with a depleted roster and it’s clear that Detroit’s rebuilding process won’t truly begin until 2022-2023.</p>
<p>The number one priority for new general manager Troy Weaver must be maintaining cap flexibility for the next two years. That means signing free agents who won’t take up much cap space on shorter-term deals. There is little to no value in limiting the team’s flexibility while Griffin is still under contract.</p>
<p>Maintaining some level of cap space is essential. Very few teams have cap space so the Pistons are a natural trading partner to take on bad contracts while receiving assets to do so.</p>
<p>So the focus should be on signing younger players to shorter, cheaper contracts. These players have more room to develop and can potentially be used as trade pieces when their deals expire.</p>
<p>There are a number of restricted free agents that may appeal to Detroit, but teams would be likely to match offer sheets on guys like Jakob Poeltl, Kris Dunn, and Torrey Craig. Still, it might make sense for the Pistons to sign those types of free agents to force other teams to pay money and then clean up later in the offseason when other teams have less money to spend.</p>
<p>Realistically, Detroit isn’t going to sign any valuable role players. Those players tend to either get overpaid, which the Pistons need to avoid, or they sign with contenders. With that in mind, here are five options you might see Troy Weaver target this offseason.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nerlens Noel </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_413099" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-413099" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1194,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1268345271.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1194" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1268345271.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1268345271-768x573.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>5. Nerlens Noel</h2>
<p>Despite what feels like a long and rocky road throughout his NBA career, Nerlens Noel is still just 26 years old.</p>
<p>He remains a high-level rim protector who can get the job done in the paint offensively under the right circumstances. He’s a career 71.7 percent shooter from inside three feet who makes a lot of sense for the Pistons.</p>
<p>Noel is a much different player than Christian Wood, but he would provide similar value through his individual strengths. His defensive ability could make things easier on the younger Pistons’ wings while perhaps helping them learn the more nuanced aspects of defense.</p>
<p>As an offensive player, he’s obviously limited compared to Wood but he’s a great pick-and-roll partner who would work well with Bruce Brown Jr., Luke Kennard, and any point guard Detroit may draft.</p>
<p>In addition to being useful for the younger Pistons, he could certainly be an appealing target for contenders who need some extra rim protection if he maintains his recent level of play in an expanded role. Targeting players like this is a win-win for Detroit for both the short and long-term.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Alec Burks </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_413994" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-413994" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2092,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1228171073.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2092" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1228171073.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1228171073-768x502.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>4. Alec Burks</h2>
<p>At age 29, Alec Burks doesn’t fit the Pistons timeline, but he still makes sense for several reasons. But most importantly, <em>ESPN’s</em> Bobby Marks projects Burks to make $4-$6 million next season, which is a number Detroit can afford. The Pistons have been looking for a quality combo guard since Stan Van Gundy spent $21 million on Langston Galloway, and Burks could finally fill that position.</p>
<p>The University of Colorado product had a very strong finish to last year with Philadelphia and he’s proven over nine seasons that he’s a capable playmaker with real value when he’s on the court.</p>
<p>He’s only started 86 games in those nine years, but his ability to play competently both on the wing as well as some point guard is a valuable commodity. And Detroit has multiple young guys on its roster who could learn a thing or two about that role.</p>
<p>Brown and Kennard have both seen time at point guard and on the wing and their most likely long-term spots fall in that combo guard role. Burks brings real experience and could help both Brown and Kennard if Weaver believes he’d buy into that role.</p>
<p>Plus, if Burks ends up playing well in Detroit on a cheap contract, he could be an intriguing trade chip for contenders in need of some backcourt help.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Malik Beasley </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_413995" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-413995" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1210768120.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1210768120.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1210768120-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>3. Malik Beasley</h2>
<p>If the Detroit Pistons want to spend real money this offseason, Malik Beasley is perhaps their best, realistic target.</p>
<p>Beasley, who turns 24 in November, is a restricted free agent. Otherwise, he would be higher on this list. The Minnesota Timberwolves can match any offer sheet Beasley might sign with Detroit, but they almost certainly have a price they’re comfortable paying.</p>
<p>The 6’4” shooting guard joined Minnesota last year after the Timberwolves traded Robert Covington for Beasley and other assets including a 2020 first-round pick. Covington is a great wing, but he didn’t quite fit with Minnesota’s timeline and they sold high on him. Beasley was surely an intriguing piece to receive back, but having played only 14 games with the Timberwolves, it’s doubtful that they have tied him tightly to their long-term plans.</p>
<p>In those 14 games, Beasley was terrific – scoring 20.7 points per game while shooting 42.6 percent from deep. It’s a very small sample size. Although he did show flashes of that type of scoring ability in Denver, but he never could crack a consistent role on the deep Nuggets roster. He’s a career 38.8 percent shooter from three while being an elite finisher at 67.3 percent inside three feet. There’s little doubt he could provide a creative boost for the Pistons.</p>
<p>If Detroit isn’t committed to Luke Kennard as the starting shooting guard, Beasley is an obvious replacement who fits well as a young piece moving forward.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Derrick Jones, Jr. </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_413996" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-413996" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1211814972.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1211814972.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1211814972-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>2. Derrick Jones, Jr.</h2>
<p>Derrick Jones, Jr. may stand at 6’6”, but with a wingspan around seven feet and unparalleled athleticism, he could bring a much needed physical profile to downtown Detroit.</p>
<p>For years, the Pistons have been small and not particularly athletic on the wing. It was particularly striking when the Milwaukee Bucks swept them in the first round two years ago. Kennard and Brown only contribute to that deficiency and Sekou Doumbaya is a giant question mark at this early point in his career.</p>
<p>Jones would provide quite the contrast.</p>
<p>He’s not much of a shooter from deep, but he’s also only 23 years old. His 77.2 percent shooting from the charity stripe last season provides some hope, albeit on a small sample. But even if he doesn’t become a shooting threat, he can still contribute in Detroit from day one.</p>
<p>Jones spends most of his time off the ball cutting and slashing to the paint which works well alongside Blake Griffin, who needs such a threat to weaken the effectiveness of double teams. Given Griffin’s improved outside shooting, Jones’ weakness is mitigated quite a bit in smaller lineups where he may be the only negative shooter on the floor. His freakish athleticism makes him a threat around the rim and provides some extra rim protection in smaller lineups without a true center. If the Pistons want to go super small, Jones has the length to even give them a few minutes at the five.</p>
<p>If he figures out his shooting stroke from deep, he becomes a very valuable piece moving forward. It’s by no means a sure thing, but for Detroit, it’s certainly a risk worth taking.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Josh Jackson </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_413997" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img class="size-full wp-image-413997" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1208267894.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1208267894.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1208267894-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>1. Josh Jackson</h2>
<p>After a rough beginning to his career, Josh Jackson found some new life with the Memphis Grizzlies. Jackson struggled so much with the Phoenix Suns he was something of a throw-in when the Grizzlies traded for him last summer. Memphis sent him to the G League for the early part of the season and Jackson appeared to have improved during his 22 games when called up.</p>
<p>Jackson’s early pedigree and the reasons behind it make him a very intriguing free agency target for the Pistons.</p>
<p>In a limited sample in Memphis, Jackson produced 18.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per 36 minutes on much-improved efficiency. Most notably, he shot an incredible 78.0 percent from inside three feet. That number is almost certainly not sustainable, but Jackson would be far from the first young player (23) to adjust to NBA defenses and improve at the rim over his career.</p>
<p>What Jackson still hasn’t found is his outside shooting streak. If he can, his entire game opens up. He has the physical tools to be a switchy defender, can contribute in a lot of ways and can play both wing positions.</p>
<p>That’s exactly the type of free agent Detroit should be taking a chance on.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Best player-coach duos for each NBA team's history" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2019/09/16/nba-best-player-coach-pairing-teams-history/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/5-free-agents-to-target-if-christian-wood-leaves/"https://hoopshabit.com/2019/09/16/nba-best-player-coach-pairing-teams-history/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Best player-coach duos for each NBA team's history </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">