Pistons to bring back big man on a two-year deal

The Pistons are bringing back free agent big man Paul Reed, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who reports that the two sides are in agreement on a two-year, $11M deal.

The second year of Reed’s new contract will be non-guaranteed, tweets Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press.

Reed has Early Bird rights with a minimum cap hold — there are no options allowed on a two-year Early Bird deal, cap expert Yossi Gozlan notes (Twitter link). The Pistons can use up their cap space, then go over the cap to re-sign him to this contract.

Reed had a bizarre year regarding his contract situation. He was waived by the Sixers last season when they were trying to open up as much cap space as possible. The Pistons claimed him and picked up his $7.7M salary, then waived him in December before it became fully guaranteed. They re-signed him that month on a more team-friendly deal.

Reed spent most of the season as the third-stringer behind Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. After playing in every game with the Sixers the previous season, he only saw action in 45 games off the bench this past season. He averaged 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game. Reed also played five games off the bench against the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs after Stewart was sidelined with a knee injury.

Reed is expected to return to that role in the coming season. The Pistons will now concentrate on bigger free agents, a process that became more complicated when gambling allegations surfaced against sixth man and unrestricted free agent Malik Beasley.