NBA Free Agency: Pistons Could Set Sights on Clippers All-Star
Thanks to the flurry of moves they made at the trade deadline, the Detroit Pistons have set themselves up nicely for the offseason. Along with adding more young talent to the core, they have a sizable amount of cap space to worth with in free agency.
As one of the projected biggest spenders, the Pistons have a chance to be a major player in free agency. Recent reports suggest one All-Star that they could potentially set their sights on.
In a recent story for The Athletic, John Hollinger touched on some Western Conference teams heading into the offseason. While breaking down the Clippers, he inserted an interesting tidbit about Paul George. Hollinger mentioned that some teams in the East with cap space might be keeping tabs on his situation.
"Keep an eye on Paul George, by the way. Presumably, if there was a max extension sitting around for him, he would have signed it by now, I think it's fair to say a couple of cap-room teams in the East are, um, 'monitoring' this," Hollinger wrote.
George, 33, is still playing at an All-Star level. This season, he is averaging 22.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 3.7 APG while shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
With some money to spend this offseason, the Pistons could insert themselves in the George sweepstakes this summer. While he is on the back end of his prime, he is still proven to be a capable two-way forward.
Detroit in theory could offer George an interesting situation. He could be a mentor for some of the younger players, while raising the team's ceiling in the short term. Big picture, George could be an experienced veteran down the road when players like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have blossomed.