Reggie Bullock was a throw-in in the deal the Detroit Pistons made with the Phoenix Suns this offseason that brought in Marcus Morris. The Suns were trying to dump salary and the Pistons wanted Morris so they figured they would take Bullock, bring him into training camp and give him a shot to make the team. Bullock has taken that opportunity and run with it as he is seen as a virtual lock for the final roster and the Pistons are considering picking up his 2016-17 option, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
The option for 2016-17 is worth $2.2 million so with the cap going up it would make a lot of sense for the Pistons to pick it up if they see Bullock as a potential part of their future considering how cost effective he would be for next season.
Bullock came into training camp in a competition with Danny Granger, Darrun Hilliard, Adonis Thomas and others for one of the final roster spots with the Pistons but now his concern should be about playing time as he has left the competitors for the final roster spots in the dust. In his three exhibition games Bullock has averaged 12.3 points per game and has made 50 percent of his three point attempts while also being able to guard either wing spot. Head coach Stan Van Gundy has raved about the way Bullock has played and now the conversation has gone from whether he will make the team, to whether the Pistons will pick up the 24 year olds option.
While Bullock has been impressive it still might be difficult for him to find minutes with Detroit this season as they consider themselves a deep team and their rotation on the wings is already pretty much set. Morris and Stanley Johnson are expected to split time at the three while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jodie Meeks will likely be the two shooting guards so Bullock may be out of the rotation because of sheer numbers.
Prior to this preseason Bullock hadn't been very successful in the NBA after being selected in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers out of North Carolina. Bullock's best asset is his shooting ability but in his 79 NBA games the past two seasons he made just 31 percent of his threes and 35 percent of his field goals. This season though Bullock was determined to find a permanent home after playing for two different teams the past two seasons and it seems like he might have done that. The Pistons have until November 2nd to pick up the option.
