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.
Detroit Pistons: Donte DiVincenzo could be a worthwhile risk
Another player who did not re-sign with his current team is Donte DiVincenzo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
DiVincenzo is currently recovering from a minor injury and did not play in the Bucks’ opening night win.
I could see the Bucks trying to move him at the deadline, as they just inked Grayson Allen to a new deal, which might have used the cap space they had earmarked for DiVincenzo.
Like Saddiq Bey, DiVincenzo came out of Villanova, so we know he is a tough player who has strong fundamentals.
He has improved every year he’s been in the league and broke double-digits in scoring for the first time last season, hitting 37.9 percent of his 3-point shots.
He is a big shooting guard who isn’t a slouch on defense and can rebound his position, so DiVincenzo is more than just a spot-up shooter and may have another level or two as a player.
I think his upside would be worth the gamble, and he is a guy the Bucks might not be able to re-sign, so he will be one to watch this season.
Detroit Pistons: Miles Bridges would be the perfect fit on the Detroit Pistons
The player I would most like to see the Detroit Pistons make a move on is Miles Bridges, a Flint, Michigan native who went to Michigan State University.
Bridges fits the profile of the types of players Troy Weaver likes, as he is an athletic defender who can guard multiple positions.
The big difference between Bridges and guys like Josh Jackson and Hamidou Diallo, is that Bridges has shown he can shoot, knocking down 40 percent of his 3-point shots last season.
This will be a huge season for Bridges, who can get himself a fat payday from someone if he continues to improve for Charlotte.
If he defends and shoots at the same level or better than he did last year, then he will be a hot commodity if he hits the market.
That is where the Pistons’ cap space and hometown appeal might give them an edge, as Bridges would immediately be a fan favorite and might like to play for the team he grew up supporting.
If the Hornets do not think Bridges is part of their long-term plans, then the Pistons could make an offer for a trade or just wait it out and see if they can steal him away in restricted free agency.
Bridges might not be a superstar, but he is a solid player who would complement what the Pistons already have and could be a replacement for Josh Jackson if Detroit chooses not to retain him.