Versatile guard can defend multiple positions and hit 3s
After Naz Reid, a prospective free agent target for the Detroit Pistons , signed a $125 million multi-year deal to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves , the Pistons seem to be shifting their focus to one of his teammates, Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Jake Fischer reports that the Pistons could be preparing to make a run at NAW with Reid now off the market. The Pistons have also expressed previous interest in Santi Aldama of the Memphis Grizzlies, who could be a candidate for a sign-and-trade deal. Aldama, like Reid, would add a perimeter-shooting big to the Pistons’ lineup. Aldama, however, is much more locked in at power forward than a player like Reid, who could play heavy minutes at center.
Alexander-Walker is none of those things. In fact, he seems to be carving out a role in the NBA as a secondary ball-handler and not as a traditional wing on offense. He stands at 6-foot-5 and has a 6-foot-9 wingspan.
He can guard multiple positions along the perimeter and has hit 39% of his threes the past three seasons.
NAW would certainly have plenty of suitors around the NBA, but there are rumblings he is a candidate to relocate to a new team because the Wolves have Reid (already signed) and Julius Randle (impending free agent) higher on their pecking order.
If the Pistons were able to land Alexander-Walker, he would most immediately replace Tim Hardaway Jr. and would likely also fill Dennis Schröder’s role as a backup point guard.
If I’m able to speculate a bit, it feels like the Pistons might not field a “traditional” backup point guard but instead treat it as a responsibility shared by Jaden Ivey and Alexander-Walker, with both players getting a heavy dose of minutes at the other wing positions as well.
According to Marc Stein , the Sacramento Kings reportedly have Schröder at the top of their free agent wish list. Stein has called the Kings the “leading suitor” for Detroit’s incumbent backup point guard.
Alternatively, a heavy investment in Alexander-Walker could signal a slight hesitation to investing long-term in Jaden Ivey. Ivey and big man Jalen Duren are both eligible for contract extensions this offseason.
Nobody, including the Pistons, know precisely how things will play out with either Ivey or Duren, but Detroit needs to be building game plans around the idea of a future where one or both is on long-term deals and the Pistons are still able to build toward a title, a future where they kick the can down the road and let one or more enter restricted free agency, or come to the conclusion their best future lies elsewhere and be prepared to get value for one or both of their young players in a trade.
Like I said, I don’t personally believe interest in NAW necessarily tips their hand regarding their feelings on Ivey, but the current Timberwolf won’t come cheap, and a long-term investment in Cade Cunningham, Ivey, Alexander-Walker, and Pistons free agent Malik Beasley would be … well, really expensive.
What do you think? Do you want to see Alexander-Walker in Detroit next season? Do you think that means Ivey will not have a long-term home in Detroit? And what about Jalen Duren?