Detroit Pistons 2024 Free Agents
James Wiseman, Malachi Flynn, Simone Fontecchio, Taj Gibson, and Jared Rhoden are 5 players from the Detroit Pistons who will be free agents July 1.
Before going in-depth on the Detroit Pistons’ upcoming free agents, let’s first look at their cap sheet.
The Detroit Pistons have 5 players entering free agency July 1 in James Wiseman, Malachi Flynn, Simone Fontecchio, Taj Gibson, and Jared Rhoden.
If those 5 players left to other teams in July, Detroit would already be sitting with $45.3 million in cap space.
The Pistons can open even more cap space when they decide what decisions to make with 3 players who have team options in Evan Fournier ($19 million), Chimezie Metu ($2.6 million), and Stanley Umude ($2.1 million). The Pistons need to decide on the team options for those 3 players by June 29. They also have a $4 million non-guaranteed contract to decide on for Troy Brown Jr. before June 30.
So this offseason, the Pistons could be looking at substantial cap space ($68.4 million) depending on what happens with their own free agents and players with option deadlines.
Now let’s look at the Pistons’ free agents.
James Wiseman 6’11” - Restricted Free Agent
63 games played (77% of season), 17.3 minutes
Position - Center. Wiseman played all 100% of his minutes at the 5 per CleaningTheGlass.com
Free agent status - The Pistons have until June 29 to tender a $15.8 million qualifying offer to Wiseman, to make him a restricted free agent. If they do that, he would have a $30.2 million cap hold on the Pistons’ cap sheet with full bird rights until he either re-signs with Detroit, or signs elsewhere.
NBA Experience - At 23, Wiseman has 3 years of NBA experience.
This summer I’m interested to see what type of deal Detroit or another team offers Wiseman. After being drafted number two overall by the Warriors a few years ago, he battled injuries and could never find a solid role on the Warriors. The Dubs ended up trading him to Detroit where he got plenty of opportunity, but he still hasn’t quite figured out his role aside from being quite efficient scoring near the closest area to the rim last season.
Malachi Flynn 6’1” - Restricted Free Agent
69 games played (84% of season), 12.7 minutes
NBA Experience - At 26, Flynn has 4 years of NBA experience.
Position - Combo guard. Flynn played most of his minutes at the point with Detroit, New York, and Toronto. With Toronto and Detroit, he logged between 13-15% of his minutes at the 2 per CleaningTheGlass.com
Free agent status - If the Pistons tender Flynn a $5.8 million qualifying offer by June 29, he’ll become a restricted free agent with an $11.6 million cap hold and full bird rights on the Pistons’ cap sheet.
Flynn was traded twice during the season. The first time was in December to New York, then the second time was in February to Detroit. The data above is for his time last season with all 3 teams.
Simone Fontecchio 6’7” - Restricted Free Agent
66 games played (80% of season), 24.9 minutes
NBA Experience - At 28, Fontecchio has 2 years of NBA experience.
Position - Forward. Fontecchio played 91% of his minutes at the 4 with Utah and 67% of his minutes at the 4 with Detroit. With Detroit, he played 33% of his minutes at the 3 per CleaningTheGlass.com
Free agent status - The Pistons have until June 29 to tender Fontecchio a $5.2 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent with early bird rights.
Fontecchio is a high volume efficient shooter from outside. If Detroit doesn’t try to re-sign him, I think multiple playoff-level teams who need shooting will be trying to sign Fontecchio for a role off the bench.
Taj Gibson 6’9” - Unrestricted Free Agent
Gibson spent some time with the Knicks and Pistons last season, finishing playing in 20 games, with 1.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists as his averages in 10.2 minutes per game. At this stage of his career, Gibson is mainly a center when he’s able to see courtime out on the floor.
Free agent status - Gibson will be an unrestricted free agent with a $2 million cap hold on the Pistons’ books with non-bird rights.
NBA Experience - At 38, Gibson has 15 years of NBA experience.
Troy Brown Jr. 6’7” - Unrestricted Free Agent
Primary Position: Small forward
Free agent status - Brown Jr. will be an unrestricted free agent after the Pistons waived him.
NBA Experience - Brown Jr. will be 25 next season, with 6 years of NBA experience.
The Two-Way Free Agent - Jared Rhoden
The Pistons have until June 29 to make Rhoden a restricted free agent with a $2 million qualifying offer.
Should the Spurs try to sign any of the Pistons’ free agents?
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