In the days leading up to the start of NBA free agency on Sunday, the rumor mill about the elite-level free agents was churning vigorously. The projected destinations for all the Big K’s (Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson) had been big news for weeks and months.
Conspicuously absent from any of those conversations were the Pistons, who didn’t have space under the salary cap, nor the trade assets, to be in on any of the top targets, but they had a plan nonetheless.
One of their big priorities was getting a solid backup point guard, which led to their pursuit of former league MVP Derrick Rose and agreeing to a two-year deal for $15 million on Sunday, a league source confirmed to The Detroit News.