Detroit Pistons sign Javante McCoy, reach NBA salary floor

The Detroit Pistons have signed power forward Javante McCoy to a contract, the team announced Sunday night.

A league source told the Free Press that the deal, which will see McCoy through the end of this season, elevates the Pistons above the salary floor. On Saturday, they waived veteran backup center Paul Reed and fell below the salary floor, which is $126.5 million this season.

Teams must take the field before the start of the regular season or risk losing their share of the luxury tax distribution (currently around $19 million). DET got there by claiming Reed before the season. Letting him go now gives them a day to get back on the ground

– Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) December 15, 2024

July 12, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, United States; Los Angeles Lakers guard Javante McCoy (46) dribbles against LA Clippers guard Xavier Moon (15) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Under the collective bargaining agreement, half of the money generated by the league’s luxury tax is distributed equally to non-taxpaying teams. Teams must reach the salary floor to qualify for the payment, however, meaning the Pistons had to add a player by the end of Sunday.

According to Eric Pincus, general manager of Sports Business Classroom and cap expert, this year’s luxury tax payment is approximately $19 million.

McCoy, 26, is a 6-foot-5 power forward who appeared in 12 games for the Motor City Cruise this season, averaging 14.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He spent five seasons at Boston College from 2017 to 2022 and averaged 17.4 points per game in his final season in 2021-22, and went undrafted in 2022.

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

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons sign Javante McCoy, reach NBA salary floor