| Detroit Free Press
Have a week, Troy Weaver.
The Detroit Pistons‘ first-year general manager continued his overhaul of the roster on Friday when he reportedly agreed to sign veteran center Mason Plumlee to a three-year, $25 million deal, according to ESPN.
Players can’t officially sign free-agent deals until noon Sunday.
The news of Plumlee’s expected signing came less than an hour after the NBA free agency negotiating period opened at 6 p.m. Friday, and it’s the latest move from Weaver signaling a new direction for the Pistons.
Over the past week, Weaver has traded away four players (Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Khyri Thomas, Tony Snell), drafted four players (first-rounders Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey; second-rounder Saben Lee) and now has added three players via free agency: Plumlee and fellow center Jahlil Okafor and combo guard Josh Jackson.
Plumlee, who is 30 years old, averaged 7.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 17.3 minutes per game last season with the Denver Nuggets. He was the 22nd overall pick out of Duke in the 2013 NBA draft, and is considered an elite player around the rim and a good passer for his position.
Here’s what you should know about the 6-foot-11 center:
He stuffed LeBron’s game-winner
One of Plumlee’s greatest highlights came during his rookie year with the Brooklyn Nets.
It was April 8, 2014, against LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
With the Heat trailing 88-87 in the final seconds, James grabbed an offensive rebound and was stuffed by Plumlee at the rim.
Here’s a video of the play:
Three’s company
Plumlee is the brother of Miles Plumlee, 32, and Marshall Plumlee, 28, who each played four seasons at Duke, winning one national championship apiece and making it to the NBA.
Mason Plumlee has proved to be the best professional among the three.
Miles was drafted 26th overall in 2012, after teaming with Mason on Duke’s 2010 championship team, and played seven seasons in the NBA with five different teams. He averaged 4.9 points for his career.
Marshall, who helped Duke win the 2015 NCAA tournament, went undrafted in 2016 and has only appeared in 29 career games, the last coming in 2017-18 with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Honoring Kobe
After legendary Lakers guard Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in January, Plumlee changed his jersey number from 24 to 7.
Bryant wore Nos. 8 and 24 for 10 years apiece during his Hall of Fame career.
He wore No. 8 from the 1996-97 season to 2005-06 and No. 24 from 2006-07 to 2015-16.
‘Plumdog Millionaire’
Plumlee apparently has an alter ego as a backup rapper named ‘Plumdog Millionaire’ who shoots hundred-dollar bills out of a money gun in rap videos.
If none of that makes sense, just watch this music video below (caution: the language in the video isn’t suitable for all ages).
Chris Thomas is the sports editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at cdthomas@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @bychristhomas.