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Detroit Pistons Mock Offseason 2.0

By Richard Davisson

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 22: Ish Smith #14 of the Detroit Pistons warms up before Game Four of Round One against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 22: Ish Smith #14 of the Detroit Pistons warms up before Game Four of Round One against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – APRIL 22: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons looks on before Game Four of Round One against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 22: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons looks on before Game Four of Round One against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Off-season Reflection

Retaining Ish Smith was a priority for the Pistons and they were able to do it while retaining flexibility on his contract moving forward. By trading down in the draft, the Pistons were able to gain the cheap contributions from Naz Reid and Kyle Guy at positions that were filled by Zaza Pachulia and Jose Calderon last year. It is hard to imagine that these rookies could provide less than what those two players did last year outside of their veteran presence. The fact that Reid brings more stylistic versatility on the offensive end and Guy brings outside shooting make them better contributors on the offensive end.

The position that isn’t as solidified heading into the season is unfortunately the wing position. The Pistons didn’t solve their wing issues by drafting Dylan Windler and signing Alec Burks, but they did accumulate more bodies to rotate through that spot. As a rookie, Windler probably won’t be able to completely fill the team’s starting role, but he can provide shooting if needed. Burks will struggle to guard the large wings that Detroit had issues with last season, but he can provide some scoring from the wing that the Pistons will always welcome.

What the Pistons did give themselves is flexibility. They finish the off-season about $2 million under the tax with about $3.5 million left of the MLE and another $3.6 of the bi-annual exception that can be spent in part or in whole on wings on the buy-out market after the trade deadline. With this being the year that a number of the large 2016 contracts are in their final year, one would anticipate that a few guys could get bought out.

Detroit would have to open up roster spots for any guys they want to sign on that market, but they have a couple of expiring contracts in Jon Leuer and Langston Galloway that could potentially find themselves being waived if they fall out of the rotation.

The current roster may not have that many flashy additions, but that doesn’t mean that the roster the Pistons enter the regular season with will be the same one that they enter the playoffs with.