The Detroit Pistons weren’t among the loudest for the opening night of NBA free agency, but with the sudden change in necessity following the news of the investigation into Malik Beasley for alleged gambling on NBA games, the Pistons had to get some business done.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Detroit has reportedly made agreements with two players.
The first deal of the evening was re-signing big man Paul Reed on a two-year, $11 million deal followed by the signing of Atlanta Hawks guard Caris LeVert on a two-year, $29 million contract.
Reed played in 45 games off the bench for the Pistons last season, averaging 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as a depth piece.
LeVert turned an underwhelming first half of the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers into a solid finish with the Hawks, scoring 14.9 points and adding nearly three assists per game off the bench after a midseason trade.
The signings have been met with some mixed reviews from national media. Though no one is outright calling either a sure misstep, there’s some uncertainty about whether LeVert in particular can be an effective replacement for the production the team may be about to lose from last season in free agency.
Here’s a look at the grades being assessed by some national writers and what they’re saying about the signings.
ESPN
LeVert: B-
“LeVert is a shooting downgrade compared with Beasley. LeVert is a career 34.5% 3-point shooter, albeit an improved one during his time in Cleveland (36%),” Kevin Pelton wrote. “LeVert will provide more ballhandling and on-ball defense, important skills that probably aren’t as valuable as Beasley’s shooting to a Pistons team that will presumably use Jaden Ivey in a reserve role next season.”
Reed: B
“Detroit is bringing back Reed, who served as the Pistons’ backup center for much of last season,” Pelton wrote. “Reed’s active defense makes him a reliable option in that role, and the price is reasonable for a team that is nowhere near the luxury tax.”
Bleacher Report
LeVert: B
“In an offseason that could cost them both Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr., the Detroit Pistons desperately needed shooters to deploy alongside Cade Cunningham. Caris LeVert kind of checks that box," Andy Bailey wrote. “He’s an underwhelming 34.5 percent three-point shooter for his career, but that number is slightly higher (36.3) over the last three seasons. And LeVert brings a little playmaking punch that Beasley and Hardaway didn’t.
“He may be able to pilot some possessions as a combo guard when Cunningham is off the floor.”
Reed: B
“Reed is a hard-playing big who does a decent job of protecting the rim when he’s out there. And this certainly isn’t a bank-breaking price for some depth and experience at the 5.”
The Athletic
LeVert: C+
“The Malik Beasley investigation likely opened up this opportunity for LeVert with the Pistons. If that’s the case, I’m not sure I love this pivot,” Zach Harper wrote. “LeVert is a fine scorer to bring off the bench, but he’s been a below-average 3-point shooter for most of his career. He can handle the ball, but the Pistons needed more of a 3-and-D guy. You need pure shooters around Cade Cunningham, not someone to dribble a lot.”
Reed: C
“This is a small deal, and I know the internet loves Reed because his nickname is “B-Ball Paul” or something," Harper wrote. “I just don’t think he added a whole lot to the Pistons’ rotation. Is this a familiarity thing? I’d rather they go find a more veteran guy or someone with more reliability to bring into the mix.”
SBNation
LeVert: C+
“As the Magic and Hawks have improved enough to be considered pre-season Eastern Conference contenders, the similarly positioned Pistons have had a quiet offseason. Detroit added a solid bench scorer in Caris LeVert, but I fear that’s not enough to keep up in the conference arms race,” Ricky O’Donnell wrote. “LeVert is historically a very streaker shooter (34 percent from three in his career) and a below-average defender. His shot-creation will be a welcome addition in lineups lineups with Ron Holland and/or Ausar Thompson, but this feels like a lot of money for a player who doesn’t really move the needle.”
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