Wayne Ellington
This one may not be by choice for the Pistons, but either way, I don’t suspect Wayne Ellington to be returning to Detroit next year.
One reason for this is that Ellington is likely to get paid this off-season. Like, paid paid.
The Pistons don’t have loads of money this off-season, and their number one priority this off-season with whatever money they do have will be getting a wing who is capable of starting and playing 30+ minutes.
Ellington, while he played well in Detroit, doesn’t fit what I believe the Pistons are looking for. Yes, he can shoot the lights out (37 percent three-point shooter). But, the biggest weakness on this team is the size on the wing, something the Pistons lost when they traded Stanley Johnson.
The Detroit Pistons desperately need some more athleticism, size, and defense on the wing going into next year. Something they literally had zero of in the playoffs.
Ellington isn’t a bad player and he does fill a need in this offense by being a knockdown shooter. But, the Pistons don’t have tons of money to spend so they need to allocate their resources accordingly.
Finding that wing player this off-season and Ellington’s price will be the end of his era in Detroit.