DeMar DeRozan might be getting the call from the Motor City.
The Detroit Pistons are evaluating the possibility of signing the veteran scorer DeRozan in free agency, longtime NBA writer Marc Stein reported to Substack this week. Stein adds DeRozan’s market will become clearer once LeBron James makes his own decision in free agency.
DeRozan, 36, is an unrestricted free agent after being released earlier this month by the Sacramento Kings. With averages of 18.4 points and 4.1 assists per game on a deeply-flawed team last season, there is still something to be had there with DeRozan.
The six-time NBA All-Star DeRozan has seemingly up to this point had two main frontrunners for his services. We also learned a few days ago that DeRozan could potentially reunite with one of his former NBA teams.
As for the Pistons, they are a bit of a less likely suitor for DeRozan given their young core led by 24-year-old Cade Cunningham, 23-year-old Ausar Thompson, and (if he returns in restricted free agency) 22-year-old Jalen Duren. Detroit was also already the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year, finishing at 60-22 before losing in the second round to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But the Pistons did lose scorers Tobias Harris (free agency) and Caris LeVert (trade) earlier this offseason. While the addition of John Collins in free agency should help, DeRozan might be a surprise option as a super 6th man for Detroit next season.