Pistons finalizing buyout agreement with center Mike Muscala

Detroit — It appears that Mike Muscala's brief stint in Detroit has come to an end.

The Pistons are finalizing a buyout agreement with Muscala, a league source confirmed to The Detroit News on Tuesday night.

Muscala, a veteran big man who fell out of Monty Williams' rotation in favor of fourth-year center James Wiseman, will be eligible to sign with a contending team for the postseason.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report the news of Muscala's buyout agreement with the Pistons.

The Pistons announced Muscala's buyout on Wednesday evening.

Muscala was part of the Pistons' first trade of the year, alongside recently-waived Danilo Gallinari that sent Marvin Bagley III and Isaiah Livers to the Washington Wizards on Jan. 14. Pistons general manager Troy Weaver also gave up two future second-round picks (2025 and 2026) in the deal.

Bagley is averaging 13.6 points and 8.7 rebounds on 55% shooting in 15 games since joining the Wizards. Livers has not played for Washington and will miss the remainder of the season due to joint capsule inflammation in his right hip.

The numbers might not show it, but Muscala's time with the Pistons was productive with averages of 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. He shot 38 percent from beyond the 3-point line, which allowed him to play in lineups as a floor spacer alongside rookie forward Ausar Thompson and second-year center Jalen Duren. He recorded a 46 plus-minus rating in 13 games.

Wiseman, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, has totaled 6.1 points and 4.9 rebounds on 60% from the field in eight games since Williams designated him as the backup center in a Jan. 8 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Muscala's buyout opens the door for another roster spot that the Pistons can use to sign another player for the remainder of the season. Detroit used its most recent open spot to sign former two-way guard Stanley Umude to a standard contract.

Muscala, who is in his 10th season in the NBA, has appeared in 532 career games and averaged six points and 3.2 rebounds with Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City, Boston, Washington and Detroit.    

mcurtis@detroitnews.com

@MikeACurtis2