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The Woj... sparkler? This is not a Woj bomb. The Woj sparkler hit today:
The Pistons are waiving Joe Johnson, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 21, 2019
Johnson had come to Pistons camp with a non-guaranteed contract. Pistons deciding to use roster spots for Christian Wood and continued development of young guard Khryi Thomas. https://t.co/xeHcJvD0QA
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 21, 2019
It was previously reported by Chris Haynes of Yahoo that Christian Wood was going to make the regular-season roster. The Detroit Pistons front office, unable to find a taker for either Langston Galloway or Khyri Thomas, did the easier, smarter thing, and just cut the player with the least amount of guaranteed money left on the roster to get to 15 players.
Don’t get me wrong, I am happy that the team did the simple thing instead of a more complex trade operation, but let’s not pretend like the Pistons didn’t scour the league for a Khyri Thomas taker to keep Joe Johnson. Tom Gores’ wallet is the thing keeping Khyri a Piston.
Am I happy that we can relegate Steve’s 7 a.m. piece to the dustbin of history? Absolutely. But this was never, and should not be considered, a referendum on the front office. This wasn’t the thing to get into histrionics over. It is far more likely that Khyri Thomas doesn’t work out than he does, but it was EVEN MORE likely that Joe Johnson wasn’t going to work out. This was a choice between “Oh No” and “Good Lord.”
Anyway, I’m just happy the even easier choice (to keep Christian Wood for the season) was made fully independent of this choice. Celebrate THAT in the comments below.