Pistons power forward Eric Moreland got a significant increase in his salary guarantee by remaining on the roster through Friday. The 25-year-old, who signed with Detroit this summer, saw his guarantee for the upcoming season rise from $500K to $750K. Moreland inked a three-year contract, but it’s filled with guarantee dates that require him to remain with the team. The next one is opening night, October 18, when Moreland’s salary will increase to $1MM.
Undrafted out of Oregon State in 2014, Moreland began his career with the Kings, but played just 11 NBA games in two seasons. He was waived by the Cavaliers in training camp a year ago and spent the entire season with the team’s G League affiliate in Canton, earning a spot in the All-Star Game and third team all-league honors. The Pistons used a portion of their mid-level exception to sign Moreland.
For a complete look at upcoming guarantee dates around the NBA, see our breakdown.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- The Bulls should get at least one shot at a top draft pick before lottery reform is implemented, writes Mark Schanowski of CSNChicago. Chicago launched a rebuilding project by trading Jimmy Butler this summer and seems headed toward one of the league’s worst records. Even if owners approve the latest proposal to reform the lottery, the changes won’t take effect until 2019, meaning next summer’s draft will be conducted under the current system. If the Bulls finish with the worst record in the league this season, they will have a 25% shot at the top pick in June. Schanowski notes that the team will have $40MM to $50MM in cap space next summer, which could speed up the rebuilding process if combined with an elite draft choice.
- The Cavaliers may have improved after a summer of chaos, according to Shaun Powell of NBA.com. Powell gives the team high marks for the return it got from Boston in exchange for Kyrie Irving, even though new point guard Isaiah Thomas will take a while to get back on the court. He speculates that the package of players, and especially Brooklyn’s unprotected first-rounder for 2018, could motivate LeBron James to remain in Cleveland beyond the upcoming season.
Where’s the news on Niko? At this point we have to assume he’s going back to the Bulls at the qualifying offer right? Bulls gotta go full White Sox and try to get a low end first for him at the deadline this year.
Can’t trade him without his permission if he signs the QO
Won’t matter. The Bulls are hopeless.