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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2022 Free Agents - Cory Joseph
Summary
Back in 2019, I really liked the Kings signing Joseph to a 3-year, $37 million contract. However, Joseph did not live up to that contract, and ended up being waived in 2021 before the last year of his contract became fully-guaranteed. However, Joseph did well by recouping some of that lost money with a two-year, $10.1 million contract with Detroit, which included a player option for '22-'23.
Joseph is an adequate defender, but is not super disruptive - his block and steal rates have been about average for his position over the last two seasons. He's also not a lockdown defender that can stay in front of the best ball-handlers.
On offense, Joseph is not a great outside shooter, which allows defenses to go under pick-and-rolls. He has shot 42% from three since joining the Pistons, but is only a career 34% shooter from downtown, so I would not expect that level of shooting to continue. Joseph has some craft, as he knows how to put his defender in jail in the pick-and-roll, and has nice touch on floaters and overall makes the right reads.
At this point in his career, Joseph is best served as a third point guard or fourth/fifth guard in the backcourt rotation, and those guys generally are just worth the minimum, so I would be surprised if he opts out in 2022.
Cap Considerations
Joseph has a $5.2 million player option for next season, and if he declines that option he will be an unrestricted free agent with a $9.3 million cap hold and full Bird Rights, meaning the Pistons will have no restrictions on re-signing him. As his cap hold exceeds the salary he will get in free agency, his cap hold is not really relevant. If the Pistons re-sign Joseph, his cap hold will be replaced by his starting salary, and the Pistons may still have some cap space available depending on his salary and what happens with their other free agents.
Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Joseph as even teams without cap space could possibly use the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception or Taxpayer MLE to sign him if he opts out, but it's hard to imagine he would opt out and settle for the Room MLE or less.
Potential Teams: Pistons, 76ers, Thunder, Rockets, Clippers
Predicted Contract: Opt-In: $5.2 million
If opt out: 1-year, $5.5 million with the Pistons
Actual Contract: Opt-In: $5.2 million
Joseph opted in as expected, and will be a free agent in 2023. He could also potentially be a buyout candidate if the Pistons are heading toward the lottery again mid-way through the '22-'23 season.
Last updated: 6/22/2022
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