Nobody Saw This Coming… 👀 Pistons Trade Twist + What Comes Next in Free Agency | Pistons Jack Reacts

Nobody Saw This Coming… 👀 Pistons Trade Twist + What Comes Next in Free Agency | Pistons Jack Reacts

Welcome back to the Piston Jack YouTube channel. On today’s episode, we’re going to talk about the details surrounding a surprise trade request from a former Piston. We’ll look at some of the free agents available the Pistons can sign, as well as some other teams that the Pistons could look to use that trade buyer exception on, and a whole lot more. So, let’s get to it. [Music] All right, so off the top here, I know I said today’s episode was going to be about a summer league preview. I’ll save that for tomorrow, the day before the Pistons first game, because we’ve got some interesting news today. Some topics I think that are worth covering, especially while the Pistons still need to fill out this roster. So, first things first though, uh an interesting story came out from Sky Sports, I think, uh their European outlet. Uh Simone Fonteo did a sit down interview, I believe, and there’s some interesting details here uh that I I thought I know I found very interesting. Not so much surprise, but there’s some stuff in here that was interesting. Uh, as you can see on the right here, um, shout out to Muhammad who, um, kind of paraphrased some of the key points here, but essentially, Fontia told Italian press that he requested the Pistons to trade him. He mentioned that not playing in the playoffs was a very tough pill for him to swallow. And he also added, this was a very interesting part for me, that Kevin Durant approached him early in the season and told him that he tried to recruit Fontio to Phoenix. So, couple of interesting things here. Um, I did find it a little bit surprising that Fontekia requested a trade. Um, I don’t think that like I I still think like I don’t think he requested a trade directly to Miami or that kind of thing. I think the Pistons used his salary. Um, they were always going to probably use his salary. It was the most tradable salary they had of guys that they don’t want to keep. So, I think regardless of whether or not he requested that trade, Fonte was always likely to be moved this off season. But it it’s very interesting. I I’m FTKO didn’t play a minute in the playoffs. I don’t believe and and I think if he did, it was maybe only in game one because that ended up being a bit of a blowout, but I still not sure if he played, but I know he didn’t play any other minutes cuz every game was close. The Pistons basically Fontio was kind of the 10th man in the rotation all season. Uh they reduced it to basically nine players in the playoffs. Um the only time they would have had 10 was if um maybe the game that Stu Yeah, game one was probably the only time they really played 10. Um there might have been some other minutes, but look, Fontio was the 10th man. He was kind of excluded from the rotation and towards the end uh the back half of that first round series, Ron was eventually kind of phased out, so they really only went with eight players. Um but look, it’s very understandable. Feekio was awesome for the Pistons uh in the back half of his first season after the trade deadline. He just after having a foot injury could just never get right. It felt like he never could put together like a 10ame stretch where it was like, “Oh, that’s a Feeko from the season before.” Some of it, I think, is well, the Pistons roster got better. They had more shooting. They had more wing players than they did a season ago in that horrible season where it just felt like they had Fonte was the only true wing they had. Uh, so he kind of his role kind of diminished. The injury didn’t help, but it’s also very interesting the Kevin Durant aspect. I’m not sure of their relationship. I can see why KD maybe tried to get him to the Suns. Uh, because Phoenix desperately was struggling. Um, Fontio in theory is a 3 and D type player. Uh, how good he is on defense comes and goes, but he still has decent size and um, when he gets going, he’s a he’s a decent scorer, especially a shooter off movement around the three-point line. So, it’s very interesting. Very, very interesting. I’m glad Fontekio, I think he will get minutes with Miami based on the look of their roster. Um, but just an interesting story nonetheless. So, I wanted to lead off with that. Uh, let me know how you feel about that. Are you surprised? The trade request kind of surprised me, but when you kind of dig more into it, it doesn’t he just probably doesn’t see a role for himself on this team moving forward. So, very understandable. I don’t He spoke very highly of the organization in his thank you post. So, I don’t think there’s any bad blood here or anything we need to worry about within the organization and the relationship structure they have. But moving on, let’s look at some remaining free agents because in my opinion, the Pistons still have to sign at least one more player. Like, uh, it’s like whether or not they use this bannual exception, which I don’t think they will need to to sign any of the names you can see on the right, any of the realistic names I can see coming to the Pistons. Um I still think they have to add someone whether it’s through a vet minimum or maybe they choose to use that bannual exception of 5.1 million. Just on that I for those that maybe don’t understand by exception means you can use this every two years. So if the Pistons use it this season they can’t next probably makes more sense to hold on to that then use it and then when you could potentially be in more cap uh not how but under more stress with your cap next season you still have that available. I think it might be more important then than now. But looking at some of the names here that are available, you kind of have to cross off the the players with the R in brackets next to them restricted free agents. I don’t see the Pistons going after any of them. So, cross those names off. Uh the names here that jump out to me as always. Chris Bush, I’m still very interested in Trey Lars. Yes. Um I’m not as interested in Pro Sua, but that is a name we’ve mentioned. Uh I don’t mind I’m interested in like the some of those wings there. coffee, Cody Martin I believe, and Tory Craig. Um, Tory Craig really is a role player I’ve always enjoyed. Maybe he’s past it now completely, but he is a guy who can play some four. Um, he has played four in the past for the Suns. Um, I think he was on the Bulls most recently or maybe, sorry, I think he was actually on the Celtics last season, but he didn’t get any minutes. So, he would be more of a depth player, but he can play four. I think he’s probably more of a four at this stage of his career. um at his peak was a a pretty good 3 and D player, especially for the Nuggets. So, he might be past his past even like being able to play regular rotation, but I wouldn’t mind it for some depth. Um like I mentioned though, I don’t think any of these guys are going to have to use the B exception. I think they’re going to be vet. So, let me know if any of these names jump out to you. Another name I know Pistons fans love is Malcolm Brogden. I think he’s coming off a season where he just earned 22 million. So I don’t think he’s going to be too keen to jump onto the train of a vet minimum. So he could be someone you have to use a bal exception on to get because like I’ve mentioned in the past there is a stigma in the NBA that like once you’re on a vet minimum it’s pretty much it’s quite hard to get off of that. Like even Malik Beasley last season wasn’t on a vet minimum. He was on 6 million and he exceeds expectations. Obviously we know what’s happening there and it didn’t pan out but it wasn’t because of his oncore play. It’s very hard once you become to get that vet minimum tag to get off it. So I Malcolm Brogdon I could see really pushing for at least a bannual but obviously it’s all dependent on his market. So um also Westbrook and Chris Paul I just don’t think I don’t think Pistons want Westbrook I know Chris Paul’s a name sounds like he really wants to go back to LA or California where his family is. So whilst I think he could really help the Pistons that’d be an interesting get. I’d love to see Jadden Ivy and Cade with Chris Paul as a mentor. I just don’t think he’s interested in coming to Detroit. Let me know any of those other names that interest you. Um, another thing I want to get to. Now, I know I said yesterday I wouldn’t talk about this trade exception, but Keith Smith, shout out Keith Smith. Um, if you aren’t following on Twitter, please do. Cap guru for all of the NBA teams. Like, we’re lucky to have Kyle, but Keith Smith, the go-to guy on social media for all salary cap stuff over at Spotra. I brought this up because I actually we spoke about this yesterday and how the Pistons can use this trade exception and and it can come in really handy in the trade deadline for teams looking to get under certain tax thresholds once they’re 30 games into the season and realize oh we’re not as good as we think we are. We need a shared money. The reason I have Sam Hower pictured here and he has a name I haven’t actually mentioned. Um, I know Pistons people have spoken about uh him online, but the reason I’ve got Hower pictured here is because if you look to the right, Sam Howard recently signed a four-year $45 million deal. The first year of that was last year. He’s now in the second year of that deal, I believe. Or maybe he’s going into the first year this season. Uh, I should have actually checked that. But essentially, Hower, he’s making around 11.2 million annually. As you can see here on the right, Boston to get they’re over the first apron by 12.2 million. So I don’t think they’re going to shed his salary right now because to get under the second apron they only need to shed 300k which I’m sure they can make happen in another way. But the reason how is interesting is cuz say the Celtics I think they still have playoff aspirations next season. I really do. I think they have enough talent in the east to push for the playoffs. Um, I don’t think they’re going to be a top four team, but I think, you know, I think they’ve still got the pedigree and talent to be a really solid team in the East, but say they’re they get 35 games in and it’s like, oh no, let’s just take a gap year completely now, you know, let’s try really, I think they might have their pick. I’m not 100% sure, but they go, let’s let’s try just, you know, get into the lottery, see if we can do what the Mavs did last year and luck out. Houses 11 million. He would pretty much get them under the first apron if they were able to move him. Perfect. Fits into a trade exception. They don’t need to take a player back from the Pistons. They shed that salary. The Pistons take him on. Pistons probably have to send some sort of second to make it a trade. But I’m not 100% sure on that. But um just a name to watch. I to be honest because Hower still has at least three years maybe four remaining on his deal. I could see Traan being a little scared by that and not wanting that long-term commitment. But Hower last season, eight and a half points, three rebounds, 42% from three on nearly six attempts per game could be a really nice piece to add. Really, really nice piece. Championship pedigree, plenty of playoff experience. Um, so whilst his contract will kind of go against the way Trajan seems to be trying to build out this team with optionality, it could be a player you sneakily get and maybe he’s your long-term like marksman sniper that when Duncan Robinson’s gone, houses your guy. He’s your he’s your pure three-point shooter that comes in and just lights can light up teams with five threes in a game. So interesting there, but keep an eye especially on those teams over the first and second apron. They’re the ones that if their season goes south, I believe will be looking to pivot, move players, shed salary. So, that’s where that trade exception can really come in. If there’s a player there you see on one of those teams, please comment it below. I’d love to hear from you. Uh final thing, uh NBA Cup groups were revealed today. Uh they always the NBA cup seems to get this big push uh in June, July around summer league. So, the Pistons group, they have Philly, the Nets, Celtics, and Magic. So, I mean, honestly, I think the Pistons should definitely be better than Brooklyn next season. Definitely better than Philly. Um, although I could see Philly having some sort of resurgent, but I think the Pistons should be better than them. And then the Celtics, I think the Pistons should be better than. Whilst I think the Celtics and Philly could be a tough out, I I think the Magic and Pistons in this group are the the two leading teams and there’s going to be some fun some fun group play in there. So, let me know your thoughts on that. To be honest, I don’t have much more on that right now. Probably something we’ll cover more during the actual season, but interesting nonetheless. But that’s going to do it for today’s show, guys. Like I said, tomorrow summer league preview. I’ll get you all prepared, up to date on everything you need to know for the summer league. And then we’re going to have plenty of coverage of each game. Uh stay tuned on the channel with what’s coming, but I’m really excited to have some Pistons fast back and plenty more coverage going. But uh thank you for all the love, all the support, all the new subscribers. Appreciate all of you. We’ll be back tomorrow, but as always, go Pistons. [Music]

Turns out, the Pistons’ recent trade wasn’t as simple as it looked…

In today’s video, we unpack the surprise trade request that sparked Detroit’s latest roster move — and the unexpected twist involving Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns 👀

Also in this episode:
– Which free agents the Pistons should still target this offseason
– Tax-heavy teams, Detroit could deal with to weaponise their cap space
– A quick breakdown of the Pistons’ NBA Cup group — and what it means

Let me know in the comments: Did this story change how you view the trade?

#Pistons #NBATrades #KevinDurant #NBAFreeAgency #PistonsJack #NBAOffseason