2013 Off-season Summary
-Staff Changes: HC Tyrone Corbin signed 3-year, $9 million dollar extension. NBA Scout Dustin Braxton also signed a 3-year extension to remain with the club. No other changes were made, bringing last year's staff back fully intact.
-Contract Options:
1. The Pistons picked up Darius Knight's 2 year option at just over $5 million per season.
2. They declined the options for Marcus Camby, J.J. Barea, and Sheron Collins.
3. SG Andre Iguodala opted out of the final year of his deal, as expected. Although he's stated on numerous occasions that he would love to return to the Pistons, he was intent on at least exploring Free Agency, letting the market set his value.
-Draft:
The Detroit Pistons traded their 2013 1st (29th overall) and 2nd round picks to the Utah Jazz for their 2014 1st rounder. Flipping the 29th pick in a very weak draft (only the first three players taken even topped 70 overall) for a 1st rounder next season (possible lottery pick? fingers crossed) seems like a very savvy move. Detroit now has both a 1st and 2nd rounder for next season's draft, as well as its full compliment for the season after that.
-Free Agency:
1. The team's first order of business was extending yet another (and the final) 1-year qualifying offer to backup PG Ben Uzoh, worth $674k (a steal for a 76-rated backup point).
2. Next, in order to replace the departing Marvin Williams, the Pistons extended a 3-year, $30 million contract offer to 6'9" swingman Dorell Wright. The deal contains a player option for a 4th season that would pay him $12 million. Wright would accept the offer.
3. The Pistons then turned their attention to replacing the departed Marcus Camby, inking Deandre Jordan to 3-year, $12 million contract. The deal contains a team option for a 4th season at roughly $4.5 million.
4. Finally, after staying in constant communication with Andre, the Pistons signed Iggy to a monster 5-year $101 million contract (with a player option for a 6th season worth $25 million). At 29, Iguodala knew this was his last chance for a long-term max contract, and he cashed in.
The team thought about going for slightly cheaper options in RFA's Demar Derozan and James Harden, but holding Iguodala's bird rights allowed them to also fill out other holes in the roster, something that would not have been possible had they gone another route. Also, neither Derozan or Harden could replace Andre's leadership, veteran savvy, defensive prowess, or ball distribution skills.
It's important to note that the deal does NOT include a no-trade clause....so look for the team to try and acquire and develop a future replacement (it's worth watching the 1st rounder the team just acquired from Utah next year....my hunch is the team will scout SG's heavily) and then trade Iguodala before this deal reaches full term. While this essentially handicaps Detroit's financial flexibility for the foreseeable future, Iguodala should be able to provide a high level of play on both ends of the court for the next three years at least.
5. PG Ben Uzoh ultimately accepted the qualifying offer and will return to back up Jrue Holiday in 2013-14.
-Other Roster Moves:
1. The team waived PF Joey Dorsey and sent SG Dennis Nash to the D-League for the third consecutive season.
2013-14 Season Opening Roster
PG -
#12 Jrue Holiday (83)
#13 Ben Uzoh (78)
SG -
#9 Andre Iguodala (89)
#1 Nick Young (78)
#23 Kareem Rush (52)
SF -
#5 Darius Knight (93)
#8 Dorell Wright (80)
PF -
#7 Andrea Bargnani (87)
C -
#3 Marcus Buchanan (82)
#45 Deandre Jordan (70) /
#41 Kosta Koufos (64) /
#42 David Anderson (52)
Head Coach: Tyrone Corbin
Assistant Coach: Greg Kennedy
NBA Scout: Dustin Braxton
Prospect Scouting Department: Everett Slater, Alexander Hamlin, Jeff Bradley
Trainer: Mike Abdenour
The regular season opens in Philadelphia on Sunday night when Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala face off against their old team. Former Pistons Rodney Stuckey and Yi Jianlian will also be motivated to play well. Should be a good game.
More updates coming soon!.........
Pistons Head Coach Tyrone Corbin