Detroit Pistons waive Paul Reed, implement additional roster moves

The Detroit Pistons have waived veteran center Paul Reed, a league source confirmed to the Free Press on Saturday. This move positions the Pistons to make more moves and potentially soon. The NBA’s trade moratorium is lifted on Sunday.

Reed was at Pistons practice at their New Center location earlier Saturday before the news broke.

The Pistons, after moving on from Reed’s $7.7 million salary, fell about $1.4 million below the NBA salary floor of $126.5 million, according to ESPN. The ABC requires teams to reach the field by the end of Sunday. Reed’s salary would have been guaranteed on January 10.

The Pistons have two open roster spots, giving them significant financial and roster flexibility less than two months before the February 6 trade deadline. But they will have to take steps to add at least $1.4 million in salary in the next 36 hours.

Reed, 25, played in 12 games this season, averaging 4.8 points, and was the team’s third center behind Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. The Pistons claimed the 6-foot-9 Reed off waivers in July after he was waived by Philadelphia.

The move leaves the Pistons thin at center, with Duren’s current injury status unknown after he missed Thursday’s loss to the Boston Celtics with a sprained wrist.

ESPN was first to report the transaction.

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on @omarisankofa.