Detroit Pistons: How many roster spots will the Pistons have?

The Detroit Pistons will almost be complete after the NBA Draft and re-signing some of their own free agents.

Troy Weaver said the Pistons would first look to take care of their own free agents after the NBA Draft, so fans should probably lower their expectations for a big name coming to Detroit this offseason.

In fact, there won’t be much space at all depending on how many players the Pistons select in the NBA Draft, as they have four picks, though they are unlikely to use them all.

Let’s take a look at the roster to see how many spaces the Detroit Pistons will potentially have after the dust of the NBA Draft and free agency have settled.

Detroit Pistons: Roster spots we know are taken

The Detroit Pistons have nine roster spots accounted for so far heading into next season with Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, Killian Hayes, Josh Jackson, Sekou Doumbouya, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, Jahlil Okafor and Deividas Sirvydis all under contract.

Of course, they could trade one or more of these players to clear a spot, and of that group, Josh Jackson could be the odd man out, as his contract is tradable, expiring and they already have some similar players.

The Pistons also have a team option on Tyler Cook for $1.7 million, so if they exercise it, there will be up to ten spots taken.

Detroit Pistons: Which free agents walk and which re-sign?

The Pistons will have to make decisions on Cory Jospeh and Rodney McGruder, who both have team options that the Pistons will likely decline. If they choose to keep Joseph they will be on the hook for his entire $12.5 million salary. I don’t think either will be back.

Dennis Smith Jr. and Wayne Ellington probably fall into the same category, though there might be some interest in bringing back Ellington as a  low-cost 3-point shooter off the bench. I can’t see the Pistons re-signing Smith Jr. as his qualifying offer is more than he is worth.

The three free agents I think the Pistons will bring back are Saben Lee, Frank Jackson and Hamidou Diallo, and it’s possible that Lee will sign another two-way contract.

But if they are all on guaranteed deals, the Pistons will have 13 spots accounted for and that is before they draft Cade Cunningham with the number one overall pick. In other words, if the Pistons bring back Cook, Lee, Jackson and Diallo and let the rest of their free agents walk, their roster is more or less set without a trade.

If they can get Lee on a two-way deal, sign one of their second-round picks to the other two-way spot, the Detroit Pistons will have one spot open on their roster.