NBA cap expert Keith Smith deems today a “very busy NBA transaction day,” which could have big implications for the Detroit Pistons. When the Pistons hired Trajan Langdon as the franchise’s president of basketball operations this offseason, he was pretty explicit about his plans for what was the league’s largest amount of cap space — find shooting and rent out cap space to other teams in exchange for draft capital.
Langdon made two draft-pick related trades this offseason — getting second-rounders and Tim Hardaway Jr. for Quentin Grimes from the Mavericks and getting Wendell Moore Jr. and the pick that became Bobi Klintman from the Timberwolves for a future second.
But Langdon has also strategically sat on $10 million of remaining cap space and an open roster spot. He could have used it to entice one of the last remaining free agents like Tyus Jones on a one-year deal. Instead, he seems to be holding out to see if there is one more trade out there left to be made.
Smith also notes Detroit’s status as the last team whose dance card isn’t quite full.
Related:
The Detroit Pistons have an open roster spot and are sitting on $10.2M in cap space. Detroit has let teams know they are open to eating smaller salaries, provided they come with draft pick compensation, a league source told @spotrac. https://t.co/sVZTfroE0l
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 19, 2024
So who could the Pistons make a deal with? As Keith notes, there are two scenarios — a team looking to keep a camp invite but are already at the NBA-maximum 15 guaranteed salaries on their roster. Smith mentions the Wizards, who are currently employing former Pistons GM Troy Weaver as one team in that boat, as they’d like to keep Jared Butler but already have 15 players.
There are other teams who are staring down the barrel of tax penalties — either the luxury tax or are flirting with the first apron — and would like to move money to create savings or breathing room to continue to maneuver throughout the season.
Detroit Bad Boys contributor Kyle Metz mentions a few of those teams. Teams who could get under the tax after offloading a player include the Warriors, Mavs, Clippers, Cavs, and Pelicans, per Metz. Teams that could get under the first apron include the Heat, Knicks, Nuggets, and Sixers.
None of these potential deals would be deliver an earth-shattering return for the Pistons. Perhaps a player that could help cover the absence of Ausar Thompson or the hole at backup point guard, and a second-round pick. The Pistons could also waive any player acquired, and any deal would likely involve one or more second-round picks.
The Pistons could also wait and keep that salary cap and roster spot flexibility into the season with an eye toward becoming part of a multi-team deal at the deadline. This is when teams will be willing overpay a salary cap dumping ground so they can get the impact player they have their sights set on.
Whatever happens, it’ll be worth keeping an eye on any of the transactions throughout the league, because if something goes down, there is a good chance it involves the Pistons.