The Detroit Pistons produced one of their best seasons in franchise history, but they fell short of expectations in the playoffs. Now, the Pistons face many critical decisions. What are they, and what can the Pistons do to improve?
Pistons Believe They Can Get Better This Offseason
Detroit went 60-22 this past season, earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference. It marked the third time in franchise history the Pistons have won at least that many games, the last time being 18 seasons ago. However, the Pistons fell short in the Eastern Conference playoffs, losing in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the semifinals.
Detroit was taken to seven games by both Orlando and Cleveland in the playoffs. While the Pistons were excellent defensively in the postseason, they struggled mightily with turnovers and shooting. A big problem for the Pistons all season long was that they didn’t have a consistent second scorer, and that came into sharper focus during the Cavaliers series.
Cunningham, who averaged 28.1 points a game in the playoffs, was held to under 20 in two of the final four contests of the series while shooting just 39.9% from the field. Tobias Harris, who was fabulous against Orlando, totaled just 24 points over the final three games against the Cavaliers. Duncan Robinson (11.8) and Jalen Duren (10.2) were the only other Pistons in double-figures in the playoffs.
“We’re always going to feel like we can get better and that’s the goal, is to be a championship contender,” president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said about whether he will take a swing at bringing in a second scorer. “We didn’t think it would come this fast, these questions about being a championship contender after Year 2. We have to factor that into the equation as well. Two years ago, when I took the job, nobody in here thought I’d be getting championship contender questions two years later. But here we are.”
What Decisions Do The Pistons Have To Make This Offseason?
Detroit has 11 players under contract for next season with a salary cap hit of $135.4 million. Therefore, the Pistons project to have $29.5 million in cap space and $72.5 million below the first apron. Daniss Jenkins ($4 million) and Tolu Smith ($2.4 million) hold nonguaranteed deals. Jenkins will definitely have his contract picked up.
Meanwhile, Smith will probably also be kept on board, though he could be released and re-signed after the Pistons make moves. The Pistons must make a decision on both players by June 29. His 2026-27 salary doesn’t fully guarantee until January 10.
The Pistons’ first order of business is what to do with the No. 21 pick in this year’s draft. Duke’s Isaiah Evans and Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz have been linked to the Pistons at the spot and make sense. Evans, who made a huge jump in year 2 at Duke, gives the Pistons size and wing shooting. However, Stirtz is the better option for the Pistons.
Stirtz has been very productive in his two Division I seasons. Stirtz is an elite shooter with an outstanding feel for the game. The 6-5 guard projects as a secondary creator for the Pistons. He averaged nearly 20 points and 4.4 assists in his first season at Iowa with shooting splits of 47.7/35.8/84.8.
There is no guarantee the Pistons will keep the No. 21 pick. The Pistons are no longer in rebuild mode and could use the pick to bring in a veteran or trade down to add more assets. They don’t have a second-round selection this year.
Pistons Believe They Can Get Better: Re-Signing Jalen Duren and Extending Ausar Thompson Are Pistons Top Priorities
Re-signing restricted free agent Jalen Duren is the Pistons’ top offseason priority. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Postons will, unsurprisingly, extend a $9.6 million qualifying offer to Duren. Duren, coming off a career season, is eligible to sign a five-year, $239.5 million extension.
After re-signing Duren, their next priority will be to extend Ausar Thompson, who will make $11.1 million this upcoming camapign. Thompson is one of the top individual defenders in the NBA, finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and thrives at getting to the rim. He is projected to get between $20 and $25 million in his rookie-scale extension.
“JD and AT will be expensive, and once that happens, the optionality decreases,” Langdon said, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. “But right now, we have some things we can look at, and we’ll look at everything and determine what things we can execute on to make us better. What are the best paths to go down now, not only for next year but building forward?
Other decisions facing the Pistons include re-signing Tobias Harris, extending Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, and Kevin Huerter. Harris will be 34 next season and an unrestricted free agent. Harris hasn’t been great with the Pistons, aside from the first round of this year’s playoffs, and would likely have to take a major pay cut from the $26.6 million he earned this year. But Langdon seemed interested in bringing him back.
Tobias has been great,” Langdon said. “We appreciate everything he’s brought. We hope we can bring him back. He’s somebody we’d love to put in a Pistons uniform.”
Stewart, eligible to sign a four-year extension in July, was solid for the Pistons this year, though he only averaged 11 minutes in the playoffs. He is signed through 2028, so the Pistons have time to make a decision. Sasser, eligible for a rookie-scale extension, and Huerter, eligible for an extension until he becomes a free agent on July 1, don’t appear likely to receive one.
Detroit will also have to decide whether to exercise Ron Holland‘s fourth-year option by the end of October. Holland took steps in year two, so picking up the 20-year-old’s option for 2027-28 at over $11 million is a no-brainer.
Pistons Believe They Can Get Better: How Can They?
If Detroit decides not to use the No. 21 pick, the Pistons could use it as part of a package for a scorer like Michael Porter Jr. or Dejounte Murray. Both players make sense for the Pistons.
Porter Jr.’s addition would eliminate the Pistons’ need to bring Harris back. MPJ, who was linked to the Pistons before the trade deadline, would immediately give the Pistons a reliable second scorer and a floor‑spacer who would force defenses to stop loading up on Cunningham. He is coming off a career season and is on a $40.9 million expiring contract this upcoming season.
So, what could a trade for Porter Jr. cost the Pistons?
Scenario No. 1
Pistons receive: Michael Porter Jr.
Nets receive: Isaiah Stewart, Duncan Robinson, and the No. 21 pick
Scenario No. 2
Pistons receive: Michael Porter Jr.
Nets receive: Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland, and the No. 21 pick
Pistons Other Needs
Besides a second scorer, Detroit needs more ball-handling. Turnovers were a problem all season long for the Pistons. The Pistons finished 23rd in turnover percentage at 15.1%, though that number jumped to 16.8% in the playoffs, the second-worst mark in the postseason, only ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cunningham averaged a playoff-high 5.6 turnovers this postseason, which was one turnover more than James Harden committed. Not only will the Pistons’ adding another ballhandler take pressure off Cunningham, but it will also add more variability to the attack. Murray and Stirtz would fit the bill for the Pistons. Tre Jones (trade), Tyus Jones (free agent), and Collin Sexton (free agent) are also possible options this offseason.
“The more ball-handling you can have on the floor, the better,” Langdon said. “I think you see these successful teams have a lot of people that can … whether it’s initiate [offense], bringing the ball up, or actually execute in the halfcourt in terms of getting paint touches and making decisions. I think the more guys like that you have, the more difficult it is to guard.”
Additionally, the Pistons need to add shooting off the bench. If the Pistons don’t bring back Harris or trade for Porter Jr., they could look to add a stretch-4.
Detroit has all its future first-round picks, with five being tradeable, and 15 second-round selections.
Lon Horwedel, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
