NBA Rumors: C.J. Miles Reportedly a Pistons Offseason Target

The Detroit Pistons could be a potential suitor for sharpshooting swingman C.J. Miles this summer. 

According to a Thursday report from the Detroit Free Press' Vince Ellis, a person with knowledge of the Pistons' offseason plans said Miles "would be on our list."

On Wednesday, ESPN.com's Chris Haynes cited sources who said Miles has decided to decline his $4.8 million player option for next season and test the open market. 

The Pistons have an undeniable need for improvements on the wing considering they finished last season ranked 28th in three-point percentage (33.0) and 27th in total threes made (631). 

However, adding a shooter of Miles' caliber figures to be difficult unless they shed significant dollars in the coming weeks. 

As Ellis noted, the current state of the Pistons' books—they owe $94.9 million in guaranteed salaries next season, and that's before factoring in cap holds for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Bullock and Aron Baynes—means they will only be able to offer the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is estimated to clock in at $8.4 million annually. 

And based on the season Miles just pieced together with the Indiana Pacers, $8.4 million figures to be well below his market value. 

Although he only averaged 10.7 points per game off the bench for the Pacers, Miles was one of four qualified players—along with Kyrie Irving, C.J. McCollum and Kyle Korver—to make at least 40 percent of his threes and 90 percent of his free throws. 

In other words, Miles should attract an average annual salary somewhere in the eight-figure range with the salary cap slated to spike yet again. 

Salary information courtesy of BasketballInsiders.com. Stats retrieved from Basketball-Reference.com.