Why did the Pistons sign Boban Marjanovic?

[celticsclay]

Someone mention him in the other thread discussing the early returns on the ET contract and it got me thinking.

Boban Marjanovic is only playing 4.5 minutes per game for Detroit and is buried behind both Drummond and Baynes on the bench. Drummond in particular will be their for the duration of the contract. It is also not like Boban Marjanovic is a young dude waiting for a chance, he is 28.

Is 7 million a year really the running cost for a third string center?
Note: He signed for a 3 year 21 million dollar contract.

I realize this may cause some to ask why Zeller is making 12 million this year. The distinction in my mind is that it is only a 1 year deal and we at least half did it to have him available in a trade to match salaries. I don't think that was going on with Boban.

[Monkhouse]

Someone mention him in the other thread discussing the early returns on the ET contract and it got me thinking.

Boban Marjanovic is only playing 4.5 minutes per game for Detroit and is buried behind both Drummond and Baynes on the bench. Drummond in particular will be their for the duration of the contract. It is also not like Boban Marjanovic is a young dude waiting for a chance, he is 28.

Is 7 million a year really the running cost for a third string center?
Note: He signed for a 3 year 21 million dollar contract.

I realize this may cause some to ask why Zeller is making 12 million this year. The distinction in my mind is that it is only a 1 year deal and we at least half did it to have him available in a trade to match salaries. I don't think that was going on with Boban.

Zeller is getting paid 8 million.

[Moranis]

This was the last time the Pistons had enough room to sign a sufficient back-up center for a long time and with Baynes projected to opt out next summer, they made the move now when they had more salary and more options available to them.

[Eddie20]

Baynes has a player option next season and if he declines to test free agency, Van Gundy knows Detroit could face stiff competition from teams willing to splurge just to get Baynes’ services. In preparation for Baynes’ inevitable exit, Van Gundy acquired Boban Marjanovic.

The contingency move nets Marjanovic a three-year, $20 million deal. Van Gundy knows the salary cap is bound to get even higher next season. Van Gundy explained the situation in an interview with Parry A. Farrell from Detroit Free Press:


“We’re limited in what we can do with Aron next year,” Van Gundy said. “Two things happen: No.1, by rule, if Aron does opt out, we’re limited in how much we can offer him, by rule, because he leaves in two years. There’s only a certain percentage of his salary we’re allowed to offer him, and it comes in under $12 million a year. If you look at where the prices on big guys went this year on guys like Bismack Biyombo and Ian Mahinmi, that’s far beyond that $12 million.”

[celticsclay]

TP to every one for the responses. So the follow up questions would be
1) Is he really good enough to be a backup center? He really only played mop up in both of his NBA stops
2) Is 7 million the going rate for a backup center?

[Moranis]

TP to every one for the responses. So the follow up questions would be
1) Is he really good enough to be a backup center? He really only played mop up in both of his NBA stops
2) Is 7 million the going rate for a backup center?

probably yes and yes

[LooseCannon]

He was signed with an eye beyond the current season, as insurance in case they lose Baynes. 

Van Gundy is willing to take risks.  If it looks like Baynes will get $15m/year, I think SVG is more willing than most to trade him instead of letting him walk for nothing.  How much would you pay for a rental of Baynes at the trade deadline?