Tier 2: Valuable Veterans And The Youth Worth Betting On
May 1, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) shoots the ball against Orlando Magic center-forward Goga Bitadze (35) in the fourth quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
The middle tier of the Pistons offseason priority list is where things become genuinely interesting. Duncan Robinson and Tobias Harris remain useful veterans, even if neither should be viewed as long-term centerpieces. Robinson’s shooting still carries legitimate value in a playoff environment, and his contract flexibility matters almost as much as the jumper itself considering only a portion of his deal is guaranteed moving forward. Harris, meanwhile, surprisingly gave Detroit stability for large stretches of the postseason before fading late in the series. The reality is probably somewhere in the middle with him. He can’t consistently be your second-best offensive player on a contender, but asking him to be your fourth-best player suddenly sounds a lot more reasonable.
Then there are the younger pieces Detroit should absolutely continue investing in. Daniss Jenkins looked fearless in stretches during the playoffs and consistently brought energy even when the rest of the roster looked emotionally unplugged in game 7. Ron Holland also remains one of the more intriguing long-term bets on the roster because of his athletic tools and defensive upside. Neither player should be considered untouchable in the strict sense, but both feel like the type of developmental pieces smart organizations hold onto unless a significant upgrade becomes available.
Financially, Detroit is positioned well enough to keep this layer of the roster intact if desired. Harris and Kevin Huerter both carry expiring deals entering the offseason, while Detroit could still operate with roughly $30 million in cap flexibility depending on how aggressively they clear cap holds and structure future contracts. The Pistons also have access to the projected $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception and roughly $5.5 million biannual exception, giving them additional flexibility even without making a blockbuster move.
