The Detroit Pistons are in a great spot financially heading into the offseason.
They will have as much or more cap space than any team in the NBA, don’t have a single bad contract on their books and will finally be saying goodbye to Blake Griffin’s buyout.
The Pistons will be in a great position to add a high level free agent or land a player in a trade, using their cap space to absorb the contract.
But they also have some internal decisions to make, as they will have six players with team options this offseason that Detroit will either have to pick up or decline, which in some cases would make them free agents.
Will all of them stay? Could Detroit cut ties with some of their young players?
Detroit Pistons payroll: 6 team options for the offseason
Killian Hayes: $7.4 million
The Pistons have already exercised Hayes’ option for next season, but will have to decide whether they want to extend him in the offseason or pick up his option and let him play it out. I suspect the Pistons will exercise this option but the extension is a little less clear. Hayes has not proven that he can consistently contribute offensively or stay on the floor. I think they will eventually come to an agreement on an extension and it will be interesting to see what kind of money Killian gets.
Hamidou Diallo: $5.2 million
Diallo’s production has probably exceeded his contract, so I am sure the Pistons will exercise his option for next season and possible fold it into an extension. If they could lock him up at a similar rate for the next 3-4 years, they should, as Diallo is a contributor off the bench and gives them some much-needed athleticism. Low-cost contributors are something every good team needs.
Isaiah Stewart: $5.2 million
Like Hayes, Stewart’s option for next season has already been exercised, so this would be for the 2023-24 season. While Stewart still has some holes in his offensive game, he’s been very good defensively and has proven himself to be a rotational big if nothing else. The Pistons will definitely exercise this one and start working on an extension.
Frank Jackson: $3.1 million
Jackson is another player who has the potential to be a great value contract, but injuries have kept him out of the rotation for much of this season and when he has been in there, he’s been inconsistent. I ranked him as one of the most disappointing Pistons this season, as I expected him to be more of a contributor off the bench. The injuries aren’t his fault, but of all of the options for next season, I’d say his is not as secure, though I still expect the Pistons to pick it up.
Luka Garza: $1.5 million
This is a tough one. Garza is a great story and seemingly one of the hardest workers on the team. But hard work can’t overcome some of the weaknesses in his game, particularly his lack of athleticism. The fact that he hasn’t gotten on the floor even with Stewart injured is probably not a great sign for his future. I think the Pistons will probably let him walk or restructure a two-way contract.
Saddiq Bey: $4.5 million
Talk about a no-brainer. The Detroit Pistons will definitely be picking this one up and rolling it into an extension for Saddiq Bey. The only question is how much he’ll get. It’s become clear that he is a cornerstone piece of the future, so his option and extension is the most secure.
The Detroit Pistons are likely to exercise most of these options, as they represent good value, but it’s possible that one or more of these guys will be playing them out for other teams, as I could see Killian Hayes, Frank Jackson or Hamidou Diallo being used as part of a trade package if Detroit tries to land a big-time player.