Rumors earlier this summer suggested that the Detroit Pistons could trade young center Isaiah Stewart rather than hand him a contract extension.
General manager Troy Weaver and Co. boast a surplus of bigs as Detroit looks to round out its young roster.
Apparently, Weaver believes that Stewart figures into the long-term equation. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons have signed the former first-round pick to a four-year, $64 million contract extension.
Stewart, 22, was slated to hit restricted free agency next summer. His qualifying offer was said to be worth roughly $7.4 million. By signing the former No. 16 pick from Washington to a $64 million contract, the Pistons have locked up one of their core pieces moving forward.
The big man has improved each of the three seasons he’s been with the Detroit Pistons, including a breakout 2022-23 campaign.
Related: Sportsnaut’s updated NBA trade tracker with grades
Isaiah Stewart stats (2022-23): 11.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 44% shooting
The move is interesting in that Detroit boasts fellow young bigs in that of James Wiseman (22) and Jalen Duren (19). It also has veteran Marvin Bagley on the roster.
One has to wonder if more moves are on the horizon for a Pistons team that has not won a playoff series since back in 2007-08 and has failed to earn a postseason berth in each of the past four years.