The Pistons are finally ready to make a move this offseason. They're on the verge of signing a third-string point guard.
In an unexpectedly quiet offseason thus far, that ranks as big news. Summer-league invitee Will Bynum earned a two-year contract -- the second year being a team option -- with his performances in the NBA Summer League. The organization has yet to formally announce the signing. While the new trend in the league is for players to seek more lucrative contracts overseas, Bynum was willing to take a financial hit to earn an NBA roster spot. He'll bring in about $700,000 this season but could have made more on foreign soil. He played the last two seasons in Israel and had a better offer to play in Italy next season.
Bynum, whose only previous NBA experience is 15 games with Golden State during the 2005-06 season, seized his opportunity when Rodney Stuckey sat out three summer-league games with a sore toe. Bynum, a 6-footer, was the third-leading scorer on the team at 11.8 points per game, second in assists (3.2 apg) and tied for first in steals (1.4).
The Pistons were impressed not only with Bynum's scoring ability but his unselfish play and on-the-ball defense. They see him developing into a defensive pest in the mold of Lindsey Hunter, whom Bynum might be replacing on the roster.
Meanwhile, the Pistons have been thwarted in their attempts to sign free agents or pull off a blockbuster deal.
The main free agency priority during July was to sign a backup small forward. They made unsuccessful runs at Portland's James Jones, Boston's James Posey, Golden State's Mickael Pietrus, Toronto's Carlos Delfino and Utah's C.J. Miles because they were unwilling to commit their entire midlevel salary exception and more than three years to any of those free agents.
They now find that market depleted. Last year's backup at that spot, Jarvis Hayes, signed with the New Jersey Nets.
