Pistons Exercise Option On Diallo; Qualify Bagley, III

With the deadline for exercising team options being on Wednesday, the Detroit Pistons decided to bring back a young veteran and also took the first step towards bringing back a trade piece from last season.

The Detroit News is reporting that the team has exercised its $5 million-plus team option on forward Hamidou Diallo (pictured above), thus keeping him with the Pistons for next season.

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The team also extended a $7 million-plus qualifying offer to forward Marvin Bagley, III.  This makes him a restricted free agent (as he has four years of pro experience, compared to five which would make him unrestricted).  Bagley, III can receive offers from other NBA teams, but by being restricted the Pistons will have the option to match any offer that a team offers him.

Tuesday's moves aren't unexpected.  Diallo, who just completed his fourth pro season, averaged 11 points and five rebounds in 58 games played last season.  He started 29 of those games under coach Dwane Casey, and averaged just under 22 minutes a game.

The Pistons got Bagley (a former #2 overall draft pick out of Duke four years ago) from the Sacramento Kings in the trade that involved a total of four teams.  The Pistons sent Josh Jackson and Trey Lyles to Sacramento in exchange for Bagley just before the trade deadline this past season.

Detroit still has team options to exercise with forward/center Luka Garza, guard Frank Jackson, and guard Carsen Edwards.  If the Pistons don't opt in with any of them, they all become unrestricted free agents when NBA free agency starts later this week.