Usually when the Detroit Pistons are alone in a category, it’s not a good thing.
Worst team of the last five seasons, longest single-season losing streak, only team to be drafted No. 5 three years in a row; these are the types of categories the Pistons have lived exclusively in in recent years.
But there is one positive category in which they are currently the only team. The Detroit Pistons are the only NBA team with salary cap after Utah signed Lauri Markkanen to a major extension.
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But does it matter?
The Pistons have just over $10 million in salary cap room left, the only team in the NBA with that. Detroit is already above the minimum salary threshold, so they don’t have to do anything, and Trajan Langdon made it clear that he will not be in a hurry.
It’s not the kind of money they can use to sign a top player, but it will come in handy later in one of the following ways:
– Lower wages
The Pistons already did that with Tim Hardaway Jr. and could use their remaining cap space to take on another unwanted contract in exchange for draft assets. Langdon is slowly replenishing the Pistons’ depleted reserves and has already added three second-round picks since taking over.
It wouldn’t be the most exciting use of money for those who want the Pistons to field the most competitive roster possible, nor for those who would prefer they gamble on a young prospect instead.
-Sign another free agent
We talked about some recent free agents who were released, two of whom had connections to langdon from his former team.
Matt Ryan has since renegotiated a one-year deal with the Pelicans, so he’s no longer on the roster, but there are still guys like Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith who could help fill a void at the backup point guard position.
The Pistons have enough resources to sign everyone who remains, but may want to save that space for a bigger move.
-A big business
At some point before next year’s trade deadline, the Pistons are likely to trade Tim Hardaway Jr., whose contract is expiring and who could be a useful veteran for a contender trying to add depth.
If you combine his salary with the Pistons’ salary cap, they could get back a contract worth over $26 million, which just shows one way they could use their salary cap space in a trade.
Langdon is better off waiting, because there is no rush to spend the money and it might be worth more later in other transactions.
With over $10 million at their disposal, the Pistons are the last team in the NBA with salary cap space, so let’s hope Langdon can make it count.
