Acker is a one year NBA veteran. That classes him as a Non-Bird Free Agent.

Detroit retained his rights by tendering him a qualifying offer last season, and I would assume they will do the same this and each future offseason until Acker makes a decision that puts him out of Detroit's reach.

His qualifying offer amount is $687,456 + $175,000 which is $862,456.

Alex can take the offer, play out one year in Detroit and then be an NBA Unrestricted Free Agent the next offseason.

He can decline the qualifying offer, and negotiate a new contract with Detroit (longer than one year, and possibly for more money).

Alex's agent can fish around for an offer sheet from another NBA team (better deal), which Detroit can match, as long as they have their Mid-Level Exception available (read: they haven't spent it yet).

If we try to sign Alex straight up without the MLE, we can offer the following.

Year 1 - $824,947
Year 2 - $890,943
Year 3 - $962,218
Year 4 - $1,039,196
Year 5 - $1,122,331

Detroit can only sign a deal for 2 or more years up to 5 in this scenario.

Now if another team makes an offer, and we have not spent the MLE, Alex stands to make a lot more money because we can use a portion of or all of the MLE to match or he will get it from the team he signed an offer sheet with.

Alternately, the Pistons may come to terms with Alex on a full or partial MLE deal, no longer than 5 years with a maximum of 8% raises in each successive year of the new contract.

We need more intel on what is happening behind the scenes in Europe before we can start to project if he will even come back to the NBA, however should he come back, I think we stand the best chance of signing him long term.

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