Reacting To EIGHT Free Agents Detroit Could SIGN | Pistons Jack Reacts

Reacting To EIGHT Free Agents Detroit Could SIGN | Pistons Jack Reacts

What is good? Welcome back to the Pistons Jack YouTube channel. On today’s show, we are going to be reacting to an article from The Athletic from the Detroit Pistons Beat Reporter, Hunter Patterson’s eight potential free agents the Pistons could target. So, let’s get to [Music] it. All right. Before we get into the list here and go through the article you can see on the right of screen, it is worth noting that recently Kate Cunningham was named in the AllNBA third team. I think he should have been second team, but the ramifications of that are he gets an extra $8 million per season. It was as part of an incentive of his extension which kicks in this season. So, the Pistons go from having a potential 25 million in cap space to, I believe, around 17 million in cap space. Now, it’s also worth noting that includes um that money needs to be used potentially to sign free agents like Malik Beasley, Tim Hardway Jr., Dennis Schroeda. There’s one other name escaping you, but we’re not going to get too deep into that. This episode’s more so looking at some of the names, some of the players that could help the Pistons uh going into next season and fill some of the holes we saw in the playoffs. So, we’re going to get to Hunter Hunter’s article here. Uh before last thing before we do, please subscribe to Hunter over at The Athletic. Uh we’ve had Hunter on Pistons Jack Chats a couple of times. I’ve met him in person. He’s a great guy. Go support his work. He does amazing stuff. Uh, so I’ll have a link to this article in the description, but shout out to Hunter and all the amazing work he’s doing over at The Athletic. So, let’s get to it. The first player on this list is a player I have seen plenty of Pistons fans talk about. That is Nars Reed, uh, from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Currently comes off the bench. He was a sixman of the year candidate, I believe. I think he might have finished third or at least in the top five. Uh, as you can see here, he’s 26 years old. He’s known for his scoring. Average 14 points, 46% shooting from the field, 38% from three. He’s 6’9. He’ll give you six boards, a couple of assists, all that in 27 minutes. And if we think about back to the playoffs and just throughout the season really arguably the biggest hole on the Pistons roster, especially after they signed Dennis Schroeder to fill in those backup point guard minutes without Jayen Ivy, it was the backup four position. Now Nars can play small ball five. I think he’s more of a true four. Um but he’s got 7 foot three wingspan as you can see there which really helps. Um, even if he’s not the most athletic and has some defensive deficiencies, he’s still got he’s rangy. He can generate some deflections, but the big thing here is the 38% from three. Now, you can play him with Ron Holland, you can play him with Assar Thompson, you can play him with Jaylen Duran. This is all offensively speaking. He’s a pick and pop guy for Cade. He’s a spacer for Cade. He’s a spacer for Ivy. a lot of things he does helps the Pistons young core and fills a major hole which I mean if you look at the on-off numbers when uh Tobias Harris is off the floor pretty much from 2025 when this team started really figuring things out Tobias Harris I think had the best net rating and he played really well but it was also or the best onoff I should say and that was because he played well one but two the Pistons often struggled to have backup four now I’ve spoken in the past about Assar Thompson potentially being that backup four, but we saw them kind of ghost that in the playoffs. And the issue you have there is putting Asar at the four take you. It’s really tough to have him guard the other team’s best perimeter player when he’s playing the four because if he’s guarding the other play team’s best perimeter player on defense, more often than not, whoever’s defending their fourman uh the Pistons, whoever’s defending the opposing team’s fourman is undersized. and we saw the Pistons time and time again struggle uh with Assar at the four with their rebounding against the Knicks. Um now that’s nothing against Assar. It’s just because you needed Assar and Brunson and that would often leave you know you saw when the Knicks went to double bigs and the Pistons particularly without Stu had be Paul in there and Assar at the four they were just too outsized. Um and even if you had Stu there I think just playing Assar at the four I just don’t see that being valuable for the team. I think maybe he could do it, but I want to start on the team’s best perimeter player. Um, so Nars fills that need and and the next player we’re gonna get to does as well, but I think Nars, he has a player option here. As you can see, I feel like he’s going to opt out. The market for him is going to be great. It’s going to be hard to get him away from the Tim Wolfs. A lot’s going to have to do with how much they want to go into the tax. I think they have new ownership finally. Um, so there’s potential to get him. Now, Cade obviously, uh, getting that bump means it’s going to be hard to give maybe Nars a huge offer. Um, especially if you want to bring back Malik Beasley, but I can see why Hunter has Nars here. Number one. Number two, I think this is a very realistic option for our Pistons. And we look at Bobby Poris here. We’ve seen Poris kill the Pistons in the regular season uh, ever since he’s been with the Bucks. Um, now I I believe Poris missed a fair chunk of the end of the season due to um violating some sort of drug policy. Maybe it’s performance-enhancing. But uh when you look at the numbers here, Bobby Porter is 6’10, 14 points, 47% from the field, 37% from three, eight boards in 25 minutes. So pretty similar numbers to Nars. Um obviously Poris is four or five years older. Uh I’m not sure defensively Poris is a bit of a liability but in my opinion he’s a true backup four and can play some small ball five can really shoot the ball can really get you buckets off the bench. So um as you can see he has a player option. It’s pretty cloudy. Things are up in the air with where which direction the Bucks are going to go. If they do keep Giannis I I just it feels like Poris could be on the way out from the Bucks. A real cherry chip for them. So, um, ideally if if he becomes a free agent, I think the Pistons could get him. Um, I think he would really I think he’d fit this team really nicely. Um, he plays on the edge. Uh, I I feel like even though he struggles a bit defensively, he’s a good rebounder as you can see there. He’s 610, 7 foot2 wingspan. He’s a pretty strong guy. I think he could really help this team. Um, and he’s just a bucket. We’ve seen him have 20 point quarters, big halves here and there. He’s done it in the playoffs as well. Uh I wouldn’t expect the Pistons to sign him to anything longterm, but I could see like a two-year deal there or um a one-year deal. Um but I I think that’s a player that would really help and is a realistic option because as we get to some other players here, uh you’ll see they’re restricted free agents and typically these guys are really hard to get from their team. Um, and Santi Alama here, restricted free agent, the Spaniard. Uh, another guy who I think is a true four, can play some five, 24 years old. Uh, he’s just finished his four season in the NBA with the Grizzlies. Once again, similar numbers to the first two guys we’ve seen around 13 points, 48% from the field, 37% from three. He’ll give you six boards and those two to three assists. You know, when we look at the numbers, these first three players are all very similar and they’re all guys that are probably back up fours on a playoff team. And I mean, Nars maybe could be a starter. Um, but you know, there Santi is a European player, similar mold to the first two guys I’ve spoken about. A little bit taller, 611 as you can see. So, you get a bit more size with him. But it’s really hard for me to see the Pistons been able to make an offer that the Grizzlies wouldn’t match. Um, so if the Pistons were able to pull this off, I would like it. Now look, does this mean they if they offer him everything they have, then they can’t bring like I think they can still bring back Beasley with the taxpayers mid level. It’s just whether or not Bees is going to take that. Um, but I don’t want to get into that too much for the sake of this show. But uh Aldama would certainly fill a need like the other guys. Um now moving positions a little bit. Carris Levert, he finished the season with the Hawks. He was part of that DeAndre Hunter trade. Uh he was originally started the season with the Cavs, but as you can see here, unrestricted free agent coming off a season where he was just paid 16.6 million. uh stats as you can see 12 points, 47% from the field, 37% from three. Three assists, three rebounds, 25 minutes a night. Uh this would be a veteran. I think Caris at this point of his career is a two or three. Uh I think he’s definitely more of a score first guard. Now, if you bring him in, I I’m not sure what it’s going to cost. I still can’t see like I still think he’s going to be looking for a multi-year deal. Whether or not he gets that remains to be seen, but if we have a So, in my mind, if the Pistons have I I want the Pistons to bring back Jayen Ivy and I want them to bring back Malik Beasley. Um I think what Beasley did for the culture was incredible. And I I think I would just rather have him than Caris Levert uh right now because Levert’s more of an onball player and I want the ball in Ivy and Cad’s hand. and I don’t think he really feels that backup point guard or backup playmaking need as much as maybe a Dennis Schroeder did. Um or I’d rather maybe just try and figure out if you’ve what you’ve got with Marcus Sasser a little bit more. Um but I can see why Caris is on this list. Certainly a very serviceable veteran and those numbers like pretty solid from three. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a career high for him. Um, and then you know, three assists, three boards in 25 minutes. They’re very good numbers, but I just I don’t I think I don’t think Carous is should be the highest priority for a team like the Pistons. Trendan Watford, uh, blan on the Portland Trailblazers most recently with the Nets. Uh, 6’8, score first forward. I think he played center in college or he he was more of a big man in college. But um as you can see here uh I think he’s this is coming off his third or fourth year in the league. Unrestricted free agent, 10 points, uh four boards, three assists in 20 minutes. I feel like he’d be playing that backup for uh third string five minutes. Um so I think if you bring him in maybe Bball Paul I think there’s some similarities between those two. Even if I think Bball Paul might be a little bit better defensively, uh Watford is a guy who can get buckets from memory, has some crafty moves in the post. Uh so definitely a backup big at best. Uh maybe a a cheap a low swing for a high outcome might not cost you too much. Get him on a cheap multi-year deal. Um but moving on to another teammate of his at the Nets, Cam Thomas, restricted free agent. This is see as you can see Cam Thomas 24 years old he just came off a season averaged 24 points 44% uh from the field 35% from three 3.8 eight assists in 32 minutes, but this is very much a score first guy. Uh he would definitely be taking the role that a combined role of whatever Dennis Schroeder had, whatever Marcus Sassa had. If you had Ivy, Cam Thomas, and Cade, uh those guys are going to probably be your top three uh guys taking shots. Uh Pure Bucket, I think Cam Thomas on a playoff team is a six-man. Um, so or maybe you look at Cam Thomas if for some reason Ivy’s shipped out, but I just can’t see that happening. But yeah, I I’ll be honest, like me personally, my opinion, I’m just not that interested in Cam Thomas and and and like I never have been. I think he was in the 2021 draft out of LSU. I just it just doesn’t the way he plays doesn’t scream Detroit basketball to me. It just doesn’t. Uh that’s not to say he’s not super talented. He’s going to go on and have a he might sign a really big contract here with another team and uh he he might have an awesome career. I just don’t think he fits what we’re doing here in Detroit. But moving on to a former Piston here, Quinton Grimes. Actually, I’d love to know your thoughts on Cam Thomas because I I just don’t think the way he plays fits what the Pistons are building. but he’s obviously a super talented player. Puts the ball in the bucket. There’s been a lot of conversation around the Pistons struggling to have a second or third scorer in the playoffs. So, I know a lot of fans have been talking about bookers and uh bigger name players, but Cam Thomas could be a bucket getter. Um, but personally, I I don’t think that’s the guy for Detroit, but would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Quinn Grimes, 25 years old, restricted free agent, was with the Pistons after a trade deadline in that horrible 14- win season. Uh he ended up closing the season on a crazy tear. Um o overall he averaged 15 points, 39% from deep, four boards, three assists. Uh close the season as you can see here, 22 points on 37% from the field. So, he was getting a lot of shots, not on the best efficiency, but he did have some big games and when the 76ers pretty much had everyone rested, he he was getting some good reps there. But honestly, I’m pretty sure Grimes was traded because he was never coming back to the Pistons. So, I just don’t see this one happening at all. Uh he would be a useful player for this team in terms of the two-way ability um to defend and score and space the floor. It’s something the Pon’s missing, but in terms of this happening, I just don’t see it happening at all. Uh, finally on this list, Stephen Adams out of New Zealand, close to me down here in Melbourne, Australia, just across the ocean. Steven Adams, 32 years old, 611. You know what he does? I don’t even have to read the numbers. Uh, he’s an expiring, he’s an unrestricted free agent. Now, he would be your third big. you would be saying goodbye to people Paul and in because frankly Duran and uh Stewart they do miss time. So having someone like Adams who can come in immediately step in give you playoff minutes if you if that becomes a thing like how good would have he been against the Knicks when they were going double bigs. Um, and like I said, no slide on people Paul, but uh, he’s just he’s just a massive presence, elite screen setter, awesome offensive rebounder, uh, and I think he had like some crazy onoff with the Rockets during their season and maybe even the playoffs. So, um, he’s still got heaps of basketball left in his career. Um, I’m not sure what he would cost. I feel like there will be teams that want to sign him. He’s still only 32. He has had some injury troubles but uh him being a third big I think he would fit that other like I think the backup four is the biggest need to fill but at the same time that third string center with size that sevenfooter that true big man is probably something this team lacks um because once as you saw Stew’s injured or JD’s injured this team becomes very small um and they have struggled on the rebounds even if overall the numbers aren’t that are pretty solid There has been key spots where this team hasn’t been able to get rebounds and it’s hurt them. So, uh, that’s that’s close out the list. For me, I think Bobby Poris is a combination of I think he’s number one on my list because I think it’s going to cost you a lot to get Nars Reed and I think he’s very talented, but I’m not sure long term I want him at the starting four next to Jaylen Duran and I’m not sure I want to invest what it’s going to take to have him coming off the bench. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think the Pistons can still be a bit more flexible if they sign Poris. He gives you a little bit to he probably gives you 80% of what Nars does offensively, bit better rebounder. So, I would love the Pistons to get Bobby Porters. I think that would have them in really good shape. But you let me know from this list who you like the best. Uh we’re going to do another video about trades. So, like I said, all these players are restricted or unrestricted for agents. But that’s going to do it for today’s show, guys. Thank you so much for taking the time to watch. I want to hear your thoughts. But as always, if you could like, subscribe, drop a comment below, it all helps. But as always, go Pistons. [Music]

In this video, Pistons Jack reacts to Hunter Patterson’s latest article in The Athletic, breaking down eight free agents the Detroit Pistons could sign this offseason. From defensive anchors to offensive weapons — who fits the Pistons’ timeline best?

📖 Original Article:
“Eight free agents the Pistons could target to fill key roster needs”
Written by Hunter Patterson for The Athletic
🔗 Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6354256/2025/05/15/detroit-pistons-free-agency-nba-offseason-2025/?source=user_shared_article
(Credit: The Athletic, Hunter Patterson)

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments — who do YOU want the Pistons to sign?

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