As free agency approaches, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been garnering interest from multiple teams. And a new report adds another team to the list – per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Detroit Pistons have emerged as a potential suitor for Alexander-Walker.
Alexander-Walker enters free agency after the expiration of the two year, $9 million contract he took when re-signing with the Timberwolves in the summer of July 2023, five months after being acquired as a peripheral part of the Mike Conley trade with the Utah Jazz. It is a price tag he has subsequently outperformed, and then some.
Having played the best basketball of his career as a Wolf, Alexander-Walker will now seek a substantial pay rise, with an average salary well into the eight-figures. And the Pistons are one of the few teams who can give him that.
Alexander-Walker’s Breakout Seasons
Last season, Alexander-Walker played in all 82 regular season games for the second consecutive season, and appeared in every game of Minnesota’s run to Western Conference Finals as well. The rest of the NBA took notice, too, as Alexander-Walker finished sixth in this yearâs Sixth Man of the Year award, only one place behind Reid, the defending champion.
In the regular season, playing behind both Conley and Anthony Edwards as the first guard off the bench, he averaged 9.4 points , 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Crucially, he shot 38.1% from three-point range, and demonstrated more of the much-improved defense that has made him a coveted player on the market, defending across all three backcourt and wing positions and using his size well at the point of attack.
Hardy, versatile, defensive-minded and improving, the Timberwolves would absolutely keep Alexander-Walker, if money was not an issue. Unavoidably, however, it is.
Once the decision was taken to re-sign Naz Reid to a five year, $125 million contract , the Timberwolves knew they would be fresh out of wiggle room under the NBA’s apron, and burdened with a (for them ) unprecedented luxury tax bill. They can no longer afford Alexander-Walker.
With the lowest payroll in the NBA in each of the last two seasons, and the ability to spend their full non-taxpayer mid-level this offseason if they so desire without fear of repercussion, the Pistons certainly can. If they decide Alexander-Walker is their man, then, while there will be competition for his services, the Pistons will definitely be in the running.
Pistons Competitive In The Market
Seemingly, the Pistons are preparing to move forward without Dennis Schr̦der . Despite being an excellent mid-season pick-up last campaign Рor rather, because of it Рthe German international point guard is coveted in the limited free agency market, and is said to be likely to sign with the Sacramento Kings .
The Pistons will also have to contend with the fact that they will have less financial leeway than they might have had, had last season not gone as well. Specifically, because Cade Cunningham played well enough to make the 2024-25 All-NBA Third Team , he will receive a $45 million pay rise spread over the life of his new contract. All of that cuts into the spending power the Pistons have on the rest of the roster.
Nevertheless, the Pistons have no bad contracts , and still have a window before young veterans such as Ausar Thompson , Jalen Duren , Jaden Ivey and Ron Holland need paying. They have the roster space and financial flexibility to make a competitive offer, and have made themselves into a respectable-enough destination to merit consideration.
Competition in the form of the Atlanta Hawks , Los Angeles Lakers and others will be forthcoming, because with his committed defence, secondary playmaking and spot-up shooting, Alexander-Walker’s play in Minnesota has proven that he can improve any team. But that includes the Pistons. And after last year’s performance – paired with the promising young core and the ready-made Cade – their calls will be picked up now.
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