The Detroit Pistons will pay the final game of the season tonight against the Miami Heat with a number of interesting subplots.
They are still vying for the second-worst record in the NBA, which the Pistons can secure with a loss.
There are still young players like Saddiq Bey, Saben Lee and Killian Hayes trying to get reps and fighting for future roles, so even though the Pistons are not expected to win tonight, there are still things to play for.
For seven different Pistons, this could be their last game with the team, as they are free agents who Detroit may or may not retain.
Here are the seven potential free agents and the chances they’ll be back with the Detroit Pistons next season.
Detroit Pistons free agents: Very unlikely to be back
- Dennis Smith Jr.
- Rodney McGruder
- Cory Joseph
Dennis Smith Jr. had some nice moments but was hurt for a lot of his time with the Pistons and didn’t show enough to warrant a future spot on the roster unless he was willing to take a two-way deal. If so, there might be some interest but if he can get a guaranteed contract somewhere else, he is gone.
Rodney McGruder’s money is not guaranteed until after July 15th, so the Pistons can dump him before then and pick up some cap space, which is certainly what they will do.
Cory Joseph will be owed $12.5 million if the Pistons fully guarantee his contract, which would be insane and isn’t going to happen. There might be some mutual interest in him returning if they can work out a deal for the small portion he is guaranteed, but I think Joseph has played his last game as a Piston.
Detroit Pistons free agents: There will be mutual interest
- Wayne Ellington
- Frank Jackson
The Detroit Pistons need shooting and these two have been their best shooters this season at times. Wayne Ellington will be a free agent and there might be some mutual interest for another veteran’s minimum contract, but he shot the ball well enough to possibly get a similar deal from a contender, so if Ellington wants to chase a ring, he’s gone.
Frank Jackson is one of the Pistons’ most interesting free agents. He came in on a two-way contract, was forced into action due to injuries and has since been a mainstay in the Pistons’ rotation. He has improved his 3-point shooting this season and was always an offensive spark off the Pistons’ bench.
I don’t think the market for Frank Jackson will be huge and he’s another guy that the Pistons would probably love to bring back on a team-friendly deal. Jackson would be a great value signing but he’s not a guy I expect the Pistons to splash out much for, so if some other team is willing to, Jackson will be gone. But I think they will work something out, as he has played his best basketball as a Piston and provides some of the shooting they need.
Detroit Pistons free agents: Likely to return
- Saben Lee
- Hamidou Diallo
Saben Lee was another two-way player who ended up getting extended run due to injuries and made the most of it.
Depending on what the Pistons do at back up point guard, Lee could get a guaranteed contract next season or he could come back on a two-way with the hope of spending some time in the G-League.
Either way, I think he’ll be back, as he showed some nice promise as a potential back up point guard of the future.
Hamidou Diallo is probably the Pistons’ most interesting free agent, as the market for his services is still pretty unclear. He has improved every year he’s been in the NBA and showed some real potential at times as a Piston. He fits the mold of what Troy Weaver is doing and I don’t think Weaver would have traded for him unless he had some plans on re-signing him in the offseason and had a pretty good idea of what that might cost.
The only thing that could really stop Diallo from staying in Detroit is if some other team really wanted to roll the dice on his potential and offered to overpay him in free agency for that chance.
I can’t see that happening, so I expect the Pistons will come to a reasonable contract agreement with Diallo for somewhere in the $8-10 million per season range.