The Detroit Pistons are still waiting on Jalen Duren, and that hold-up is starting to shape the rest of their offseason in a very real way. Ausar Thompson’s new deal has been tied to Duren’s situation, so Detroit has not finished either contract as September rolls on.
That leaves the Pistons with unfinished business on two fronts, but the bigger issue comes after Duren finally signs. Once that deal is done, the roster will be one body too full, and somebody has to go.
Detroit already has 15 players on full-time contracts, so adding Duren means a cut is coming. The tricky part is that the decision isn’t as obvious as it first looks.
At the center of it is a choice between Gary Harris and Chaz Lanier. Those two are the clearest names on the bubble because they are the only players on the roster without real, or at least potential, roles.
On paper, Lanier looks like the easier keep. Harris barely played for the Bucks last season and is on the wrong side of 30, while Lanier is younger and cheaper. Lanier also stood out in Summer League, though that comes with a caveat since he was older than most of the players out there.
Still, Harris has a case that goes beyond age. He’s the better defender, he brings veteran guard experience, and that matters on a Pistons team that is light on proven backcourt leadership. Most of Detroit’s guard depth is young, and even if neither Harris nor Lanier is expected to see much floor time, the veteran presence could tilt the decision.
There’s also the shooting. Harris has been a reliable long-range threat, hitting over 40 percent from deep, and he’s done it across full NBA seasons. Lanier, by contrast, has not yet logged meaningful NBA minutes.
Salary could end up playing a role too. Harris is due $3.8 million next season, while Lanier is set to make $2.1 million. Either way, Detroit will be carrying dead money once one of those contracts is moved aside.
So while Lanier’s price tag may eventually help him, Harris is not a lock to be the odd man out. There’s a real chance the Pistons keep the veteran simply because experience is something they don’t have much of, especially with Daniss Jenkins and rookie Ebuka Okorie expected to handle some guard minutes.
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