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Detroit Pistons: Re-sign or bye-bye? What to do with expiring contracts

By Thomas Chavez

Hamidou Diallo and Frank Jackson of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Hamidou Diallo and Frank Jackson of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Pistons guard Dennis Smith Jr. (0) drives to the basket against Portland Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Pistons guard Dennis Smith Jr. (0) drives to the basket against Portland Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

Dennis Smith Jr:  Detroit Pistons Let Go

Unlike with Hamidou Diallo, acquiring Dennis Smith Jr. via midseason trade does not indicate the team planned on re-signing him this offseason.

The 23-year-old point guard showed promise at the beginning of his career, but that promise has since tapered off as the years progressed. Before the Pistons acquired Smith Jr. from the Knicks, he had only made three appearances in the season, and was getting ready to join their G-League team.

As a member of the Pistons, Smith Jr. played in 20 games and started in nine of those. The point guard’s best game with Detroit came in a three-point loss to the Sacramento Kings, in which he put up 17 points and six assists. That night Smith Jr. shot 53.8 percent from the floor and knocked down two of his five three-point attempts.

In the following 11 games he played in, Smith Jr. was only been able to put up 10 or more points twice. Smith Jr. has struggled with consistency and shooting efficiency his entire career, and that has been no different in Detroit. This season with Detroit, the point guard  averaged 7.3 points and 3.7 assists per game.

However, he has only managed to make 41.5 percent of his shots and 35.2 percent of his threes. If you include his three games with the Knicks this season, Smith Jr.’s percentages drop to 40 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from three.

The Pistons also look to have a crowded point guard rotation heading into the 2021-2022 season. Killian Hayes and Cory Joseph are currently under contract next year (Joseph only partially guaranteed).

Saben Lee, who was on a two-way contract, is also likely to return to Detroit with a new full NBA contract. Not to mention the team is hoping to win the lottery and land Cade Cunningham in the upcoming draft.

Even without Cunningham or Joseph, who could be cut this offseason, when it comes to the Pistons’ point guard situation, Smith Jr. will likely find himself as the odd man out heading into free agency.

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