Pistons' Joel Anthony: Not expected to have team option exercised

The Pistons are expected to decline Anthony's $2.5 million team option for the 2016-17 season, Pistons.com's Keith Langlois reports.

Analysis:

Despite remaining on the Pistons' roster all of last season with the exception of a four-day window where a trade that would have sent him to the 76ers was voided, Anthony only appeared in 19 games last season, averaging 5.1 minutes per appearance. With the Pistons adding Henry Ellenson to the roster with their first-round pick in last week's draft, it's expected that he'll act as the team's emergency center, with starter Andre Drummond and backup Aron Baynes likely absorbing all of the minutes at the position most nights. Ellenson's arrival and the recent acquisition of 25-year-old Cameron Bairstow from the Bulls seemingly leaves little reason for the Pistons to continue carrying Anthony, a 33-year-old journeyman with limited upside, on the roster.