The Detroit Pistons have some big-time decisions to make this summer. But there is a good chance that the Pistons essentially run things back, per Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press.
Veteran Sharpshooter Not Expected To Return To Pistons
Detroit is coming off its first 60-win campaign since 2005-06 and its third in franchise history. The Pistons, who claimed their first division title in 18 years, made the playoffs in consecutive seasons and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals after being ousted in the first round last season. Prior to this season, the Pistons’ last back-to-back playoff appearances were in the late 2000s.
Now, it is onto the offseason, where the Pistons will look to keep their core together while also trying to improve. The Pistons have 11 players under contract with salaries totaling just $135.45 million, leaving them $29.54 million below the cap. While the Pistons do have some flexibility, they also have key players to sign.
“We’re always going to feel like we can get better and that’s the goal, is to be a championship contender,” Pistons president of basketball operations Trajon Langdon previously said. “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.”
Pistons Upcoming Player Decisions
Detroit’s first decision will be what to do with the No. 21 pick of this June’s draft. The No. 21 pick is the Pistons’ only pick in 2026 and will make $3.26 million. However, the Pistons have been rumored to be interested in moving up to take University of Michigan product Yaxel Lendeborg.
Following the draft, the Pistons have decisions to make on Daniss Jenkins, Tolu Smith and Jalen Duren. Jenkins and Smith hold team options, with Smith’s being non-guaranteed until January 10.
Duren is a restricted free agent and the Pistons’ top offseason priority, as he is a franchise-type center and coming off a career season. The Pistons figure to extend a $9.6 million qualifying offer to a 22-year-old to match any offer. However, the Pistons plan on signing him to a long-term extension.
As a result of Duren being named to the All-NBA third team, he is now eligible for a $287 million, five-year contract. The Pistons are the only team that can offer him that much, which is 30% of the league’s projected salary cap over the duration of the contract. Meanwhile, other teams are only allowed to offer around $200 million over five years.
“Five years, $180 million. The contract would start at $31 million and increase 8% over the life of the contract,” ESPN’s Bobby Marks said about what he would offer Duren if he were Langdon. ” The first-year salary is 21% of the cap and slightly less than the starting number of Rockets center Alperen Sengun.”
Let’s say Duren does get the deal Marks suggested, which would increase their salary cap hit for the upcoming season to close the cap at $166 million, regardless of whether they stay at No. 21 or move to the No. 11-or-so spot.
Pistons Other Decisions
Picking up Jenkins’ $4.0 million option is as much of a no-brainer as offering Duren a qualifying offer. Jenkins demonstrated during the regular season and playoffs that he is an NBA player capable of handling the ball, even as a third-string point guard. The Pistons may also decide to sign Jenkins to a multi-year deal.
After those procedural moves, the Pistons can get down to free agency and potential trades. In addition to keeping Duren, Jenkins, Sankofa believes the Pistons will re-sign unrestricted free agents Tobias Harris and Javonte Green.
In that case, Detroit would have 14 players on the books, including their first-round selection, though they should probably be around $10 to $15 million below the tax line. The Pistons also have extension decisions to make on a rookie-scale extension for Ausar Thompson, while Isaiah Stewart also becomes extension-eligible in July.
Even if that is true, the Pistons would have a few other decisions to make. Those decisions involve Kevin Huerter, Smith, Duncan Robinson, and Paul Reed. Robinson, who is a trade candidate, is slated to make $15.9 million this season, though only $2 million is guaranteed. Robinson and Reed ($5.6 million) deals don’t become fully guaranteed until January 10.
The Pistons have an $8.7 million trade exception that expires on July 6. The Pistons would also have a $15 million non-taxpayer exception.
Kevin Huerter Not Likely To Return
Huerter will become an unrestricted free agent on June 30. Sankofa doesn’t believe that the Pistons will re-sign him. His cap hold is $26.9 million, which means the Pistons will renounce their rights to him.
Huerter had a decent season overall, averaging 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists with shooting splits of 45.1/30.8/77.5. But the 27-year-old struggled shooting from deep, especially with the Pistons. He averaged only 1.2 threes per game and shot under 30% from deep in 25 appearances after the Pistons acquired him from Chicago. Additionally, he was not much of a factor in the playoffs and missed seven games due to an abductor strain.
However, if Detroit takes a swing like Michael Porter Jr. and it costs them, say, the No. 21 pick, Robinson and/or Ron Holland. In that case, the Pistons may decide to give Huerter another chance at perhaps around $5 million.
Huerter is a career 36.8% three-point shooter, taking two treys a game. If Huerter could return to that consistency, he would be the second most dangerous shooter on the Pistons behind Robinson. Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised Huerter for his playmaking, decision-making, connectivity, and team defense during the regular season.
“He’s a really good basketball player who can fit with this group and help this group; we’ve just gotta find him opportunities to do it, Huerter said during a press conference in March. “It’s not always going to be easy because we have so many guys who can help us who are at that kind of wing position, so we’ve just got to go make sure that we give him chances. But his ability to playmake, attack the rim, make shots, be heady defensively I think can help us.”
Rick Osentosk, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
