3 players who did not sign rookie extensions the Pistons should target

Now that the Detroit Pistons have Cade Cunningham and other pieces of their core, the next step will be adding more talent via trades and free agency.

The Pistons will have an advantage next offseason, as they will be one of the only teams with cap space, which means they might be able to make a move on a restricted or unrestricted free agent without a ton of competition.

One group to monitor are the players who didn’t sign rookie extensions with their current teams, as they will be restricted free agents that the Pistons might be able to steal with the right offer.

Here are three players who did not sign extensions and will potentially hit the free-agent market. All three would be nice fits on the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit Pistons: Deandre Ayton will best of the NBA free agents

It appears as though the Phoenix Suns and center Deandre Ayton are at a standstill when it comes to contract negotiations.

Ayton wants the max and the Suns are reluctant to give it to him, as they are already in the tax and may feel like he is the piece that is expendable.

Ayton’s numbers were down last season, mostly because he sacrificed touches and shots to Chris Paul, but he has shown himself to be one of the top young centers in the game and still has another level on both ends.

I wrote more about Ayton here, but if he is able to extend his range and become a better rim protector on defense, he could very well be worth a max deal and would fit the Pistons’ timeline well, as he is still just 23-years-old.

Overpaying in restricted free agency is one way the Detroit Pistons can get a star, but the question is whether Ayton is that guy.

If the Pistons feel like he is, they could try to orchestrate a trade for Ayton using one of their young players and a draft pick or two as bait to avoid the whole free agency process.