NBA: Detroit Pistons unlikely to pursue DeAndre Ayton and Miles Bridges - Insider
Following the 2022 NBA Draft, The Athletic’s Detroit Pistons Insider James Edwards believes the side will not focus on the likes of Deandre Ayton and Miles Bridges.
FollowAccording to insider James Edwards, the Detroit Pistons will focus on signing cheaper veterans around its young core instead of emptying their cap space for high-end free agents like Miles Bridges and DeAndre Ayton. This decision also comes with future free agents in mind, as the 2023 free agency class is expected to be significantly more loaded than the 2022 one. The recently concluded NBA Draft would also play a role in making such a decision, as the Pistons added two of their preferred rookies with Jaden Ivey (at pick 5) and Jalen Duren (at pick 13).
In his recent piece on The Athletic, Edwards said the following about the Pistons’ free-agency plans: “A Pistons offseason that began with a best-case-scenario Draft has the potential to earn even more applause this coming week. After adding two of the most athletic players in the 2022 NBA Draft in Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, the Pistons enter the free-agency period with a projected $40-45 million in cap space, which would be the most in the NBA.”
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“Of course, though, Detroit’s final allowance will depend on some of the franchise’s decisions on its current players. Detroit will need to add five to six players via free agency or trade to round out the roster. Even with room to sign a player to a max contract, the Pistons are unlikely to throw max offers at the likes of restricted free agents Deandre Ayton and Miles Bridges, though things can change,” added Edwards.
“Instead, signs point to Detroit looking to add quality, veteran role players to pair with its young core as it furthers this rebuild. Maintaining financial flexibility moving forward is still important to the franchise, per sources, with the 2023 free agency class expected to be far better-stocked than this year’s group. On the trade front, Detroit could elect to use its cap space to acquire undesirable contracts and picks, adding potential rotational players that way,” Edwards concluded.
