AUGUST 11: McGruder’s one-year deal is worth the veteran’s minimum and is fully guaranteed, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
AUGUST 10: Free agent swingman Rodney McGruder has re-signed with the Pistons, according to NBA.com’s official transactions page. It’s a one-year deal, per RealGM’s transactions log.
McGruder came over to Detroit during the 2020 offseason in the trade that sent Luke Kennard to the Clippers. The 29-year-old only played 16 games for the rebuilding team, averaging 5.7 PPG, 1.4 RPG and 1.0 APG in 12.1 minutes a night. His inclusion on a rebuilding Pistons’ roster would likely be in large part to serve in a mentor role to the team’s many young players.
Financial details of McGruder’s deal aren’t yet known. However, the Pistons waived him on Friday to avoid having his $5MM salary for 2021/22 become guaranteed, so it’s a safe bet his new salary will come in below that number.
The Pistons are currently carrying 14 players on guaranteed contracts, not including McGruder, restricted free agent Hamidou Diallo, or the team’s unsigned second-round picks (Luka Garza and Balsa Koprivica). As such, McGruder’s new deal may not come with any assurances of a regular-season roster spot.
Like McGruder, Cory Joseph has also re-signed with the Pistons just days after being released by the team. His deal is official now too, per NBA.com.
Was hoping either the Heat might bring him back, or maybe he would go to 1 of several teams I thought could use him, although Detroit probably still needed him behind Saddiq Bey
Lakers, Dallas, Cleveland, Chicago, New Orleans, Denver, Minnesota, Phoenix and the Knicks could have all made some kind of sense for him
He’s an absolute clown, one of the worst dudes in the game, period.
What? Rofl. How could anyone not like Rodney McGruder. He is a ridiculously hard worker, great defender, seems like he is always getting to every loose ball…that’s why his nickname is the scavenger
He must of thought it said MacGruber