Pistons' Depth Chart, Salary Cap After Tobias Harris, Cade Cunningham Contract Rumors
The Detroit Pistons added a much-needed veteran presence to their roster on Monday, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the team agreed to a two-year, $52 million deal with former Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris.
With Harris added to the mix, Detroit's projected depth chart for the 2024-25 season now looks like this:
PG: Cade Cunningham, Marcus Sasser
SG: Jaden Ivey, Tim Hardaway Jr.
SF: Ron Holland, Ausar Thompson
PF: Tobias Harris, Taj Gibson
C: Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart
Harris' deal coupled with the reported massive five-year, $226 million max rookie contract extension received by star guard Cade Cunningham on Sunday brings the Pistons' salary-cap allocations to $194.9 million for next season, per Spotrac.
According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Pistons are now approximately $24 million under the cap.
The Pistons are coming off the worst finish in franchise history, posting a 14-68 record this past season. Detroit has been trudging through a rebuild for quite some time now, so the team is hoping that adding veterans to its youthful roster will be beneficial in the long run.
Harris started all 70 of his appearances this past season and averaged 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Unfortunately, he disappeared in Philadelphia's first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, averaging 9.0 points as the Sixers fell in six games.
The 31-year-old provides versatility on both ends of the floor and 13 years of NBA experience, which is something no one else on Detroit's roster can boast. While Harris likely won't be competing for a title during his tenure with the Pistons, he will have an expanded role as one of the primary offensive options alongside Cunningham.
In addition to landing Harris, the Pistons also acquired veteran swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. from the Dallas Mavericks. The 32-year-old didn't see much playing time during the Mavs' run to the NBA Finals, so he is surely motivated to prove he's worthy of a bigger role. He's a consistent three-point shooter who should provide floor spacing around Cunningham and shooting guard Jaden Ivey.
Detroit still has room to add a few more veterans to fill its other roster holes, so perhaps the new-look squad will be able to help bring the franchise to the next stage in its rebuild.
