The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a deal with Hamidou Diallo, their final remaining restricted free agent.
Diallo has agreed to a two-year, $10.4 million contract to remain with the Pistons his agents told ESPN on Thursday. The move was expected, as general manager Troy Weaver signaled after the season retaining Diallo would be a priority.
Because the Pistons had Diallo’s full Bird Rights, they did not need cap space to sign him to a new deal. They’ll have to create a roster spot before the regular season starts, as they now have 16 guaranteed contracts for 15 spots. The three most likely players who could be moved are Jahlil Okafor, Josh Jackson and Sekou Doumbouya.
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Diallo arrived in Detroit before the March trade deadline and immediately became a rotation player after returning from injury, averaging 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.3 minutes per game over 20 games with the Pistons. He shot 46.8% overall, 39% from 3 on 2.1 attempts per game and 66.2% from the foul line (3.4 attempts per game).
He increased his numbers during the final six games of the season, averaging 18 points and 7.3 rebounds a game during that stretch while shooting 53.3% overall and 36.4% from 3. That span of games included a career-high 35 points on May 4 against the Charlotte Hornets, hitting 14 of 22 shots and 4 of 6 3-pointers.
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Weaver was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder when the franchise drafted Diallo in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft. Diallo returns to a roster that now includes Cade Cunningham, the first pick of the 2021 draft, along with the rest of last season’s young core.
“I told him a lot of players don’t get this opportunity to take the bull by the horn,” Weaver said about Diallo in March. “He has that chance now to come in and really turn his career into a huge positive. He’s been teetering up and down in OKC, injuries here, the different construct of the team. Now he’s here with a young group. Hopefully we can get him, talk to him and continue him with the group.”
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.