Pistons are 9 games away from most important offseason in years

The Detroit Pistons need more talent

Regardless of what the Pistons decide to do with Jerami Grant, they need to add more talent this offseason in the draft and free agency.

Obviously, Detroit would love to land a top-3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, get a guy like Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren or Jaden Ivey, who can be the third piece with Cade and Saddiq for the long term, with Grant or without him.

But it doesn’t end there, as this team is still not deep enough and simply needs more talent across the board.

Troy Weaver has to decide whether to pursue a guy like Deandre Ayton or Miles Bridges to be that guy, but if he doesn’t think they are worth the price (or the most likely scenario, they don’t want to leave their current teams) then he has to be willing to be patient and not waste money on free agents who don’t move the needle.

Knowing when to walk away is going to be critical this offseason, as they can’t get in a Ben Gordon/Charlie Villaneuva scenario where they overpay a mediocre player just to do something in free agency.

Put it this way, if it comes down to keeping Jerami Grant at $25 million a season or paying Miles Bridges $30 million a season, just stick with Grant or walk away from both of them.

What Troy Weaver decides not to do this offseason will be equally important as the things he does.

This is the offseason where the Deroit Pistons have to make the leap and that starts with internal development, making tough decisions and most importantly, not making the wrong ones.