We asked. You voted.
After 10,369 total votes cast, it’s clear which Detroit Pistons free agents that fans are desperate to see return next season, and which players they are lukewarm on.
Malik Beasley was the runaway fan favorite in this exercise, in which Pistons fans voted for nearly 36 hours on whether each of the team’s five free agents should stay or go. Beasley has said many times he wants to remain in Detroit after signing a one-year, $6 million deal last summer, and even penned a letter in The Players’ Tribune before the playoffs.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schröder are also key free agents, along with reserves Paul Reed and Lindy Waters III.
What will president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon do in his second offseason in command? If he listened to Pistons fans, he would have a clear priority when it comes to the Pistons free agents.
See below for voting results and quick analysis.
Malik Beasley: Stay, 96.4% (2,142 total votes)
Reaction: A robust approval for Beasley and his shimmy, after a franchise single-season record 319 made 3s put him one behind Anthony Edwards for the NBA lead. One of the best moves of the NBA offseason was made by Langdon signing Beasley for $6 million. The Pistons seem likely to operate as an over-the-cap team, meaning they will be able to offer him the non-taxpayer mid-level exception with a first-year salary of $14.1 million and up to four years and $60.6 million. That starting offer should be enough for a streaky shooter who is undersized defensively. Beasley (6 feet 4 and 187 pounds) will be 29 in November.
Tim Hardaway Jr.: Go, 59% (2,126 total votes)
Reaction: Hardaway started all 83 games he appeared in, including all six in the playoffs, averaging 11 points and shooting a tick above average from 3-point range at 36.8% on good volume (5.9 per game). He’s 33 and will take a pay cut from the $16.2 million he made last season. He can be brought back using his Bird rights, meaning the Pistons can be over the cap and still retain him. He would come off the bench with Jaden Ivey taking back the shooting guard spot and Ausar Thompson at small forward.
Dennis Schröder: Stay, 84.9% (2,127 total votes)
Reaction: Schröder was a shrewd pickup at the trade deadline in the Jimmy Butler trade, essentially serving as the sixth starter since he often closed games late in the season. He averaged 10.8 points and 5.2 assists per game in 28 appearances in the regular season for the Pistons, providing an experienced ball-handler. He’ll be 32 next season and can be brought back using his Early Bird rights.
Paul Reed: Go, 65.3% (2,017 total votes)
Reaction: A bit of a surprise, since “BBall Paul” has proved capable as a handsy (1.5 combined steals and blocks), energetic reserve center, despite being undersized. Reed, who will be 26 on Saturday, June 14, appeared in 45 games in the regular season, averaging 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game. He played 10.6 minutes per game in five playoff games as the backup center behind Jalen Duren.
Lindy Waters III: Go, 87.1% (1,957 total votes)
Reaction: Not a surprise, since Waters was near the bottom of the roster after being a midseason trade acquisition in the Schröder deal (despite Langdon saying he had liked Waters for a while). Waters, a 6-6 wing, appeared in 14 games with the Pistons, averaging 3.4 points in 8.8 minutes per game. He turns 28 in July.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons NBA free agency: Fans make it clear what Detroit should do