DETROIT, June 30 — The headline number is 20.9. That is the points per game LeBron James averaged last season, his 23rd in the NBA, at age 41. By the numbers, the future Hall of Famer remains an all-around performer: 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, on 51.5% overall shooting.
The figure that matters for Detroit? Zero.
That is the Pistons’ realistic odds of signing him, even if the exercise is worth examining. The bottom line: James informed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that he will take his talents elsewhere after eight seasons there. He is now a free agent, entering his record 24th NBA season.
His pending next move has become one of the summer’s significant storylines. The Detroit Pistons, perhaps just theoretically, are among the teams that could be in the running.
James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. His 31.7% shooting from three-point range last season was his worst mark since the 2007-08 campaign. Even if the Pistons didn’t have a need at power forward, James would be a strong fit.
He’s LeBron James, after all. But they do have a need at power forward, and ESPN reported that James instructed his agent, Rich Paul, to contact interested teams around the league to get a feel for what offers are out there. That justifies this exercise, even if their actual odds of signing him seem low.
Here is the financial math. The Pistons have their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, worth $15 million.
They also can create cap space by waiving Duncan Robinson and renouncing their rights to unrestricted free agent Tobias Harris. But considering ESPN also reported that James’ primary driver in his decision is happiness rather than money, the Pistons may not need to create room at all if he’d sign for the veteran’s minimum. Investors will note the competition.
Four teams reportedly waiting on James are the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors are looking to make one last run with Steph Curry.
The Cavaliers are a familiar home. The Heat have a winning culture and cap flexibility. The Timberwolves have young talent and a need for veteran leadership.
The Pistons, by contrast, are a young team still rebuilding, with no clear path to contention in the near term. INSIDER: Despite sign-and-trade rumors, Pistons committed to retaining Jalen Duren. That is a telling detail.
The franchise is not in a position to pivot its entire roster around a 41-year-old superstar, even one of James’ caliber. The commitment to Duren signals a long-term view, not a win-now splash.
What to watch next: James’ decision timeline. The Lakers are now without their franchise player. The four teams reportedly waiting on James will likely make their pitches in the coming days.
The Pistons, for their part, may not even get to the table. The veteran’s minimum is a low bar, but happiness is a subjective metric.
Detroit’s cold winters and rebuilding roster may not offer the joy James seeks. For now, the Pistons remain a theoretical suitor. The numbers say they have a chance, however slim.
The bottom line: a longshot is still a shot, even if it’s a very long one.
