Detroit Pistons offseason: “Stay principled, but be aggressive”

The Detroit Pistons are preparing for what will be one of their biggest offseasons in years.

Detroit finally has a star to build around in Cade Cunningham, some complementary and improving players, another high draft pick and around $25 million in cap space to spend in free agency or absorbing contracts in trades.

The Pistons came on in the second half of the season and look to be on the verge of at least clawing their way out of the cellar and into play-in contention.

In a recent press conference, Troy Weaver was asked about his offseason plans, and his reply was that the Pistons would “stay principled, but be aggressive.”

This means the Pistons’ offseason might be defined more by who they don’t sign than by the guys that they do.

Detroit Pistons can’t overreach in free agency

While all Pistons’ fans, including myself, would like to see the team make the playoffs and contend next season, the more realistic among us know that we are more likely to see incremental improvement than a giant leap.

And that is fine!

The restoration doesn’t have to happen overnight, we just want steady and obvious progress towards sustained success. That’s why I loved to hear Troy Weaver say that he was looking for guys who “move the needle.”

This free agency class has a few guys at the top who could do exactly that and if Detroit threw a bag at Deandre Ayton or Zach LaVine, I’d be all for it.

What they can’t do is overpay for someone who would only be a minor upgrade. While I like Miles Bridges’ game, do you really think adding him is going to propel the Pistons into contention? Is Jalen Brunson really going to move the needle?

I’d love for the Pistons to make a run at the top guys, as they make sense with this roster in terms of age, skillset and their ability to take Detroit to the next level.

But there is a big drop off in free agency, so I’d much rather see the Pistons do nothing at all (try for trades instead) in free agency than reach for a good not great player. Some fans may feel the same about Ayton, and they have an argument, though I think his age and the obvious need he fills put him in that top tier.

Troy Weaver has a vision for this team and I think he has the patience to pull it off, unlike past regimes who reached for mediocrity in a desperate attempt to win a few more games and keep their jobs.

The Pistons should be trying to win more games next season but not by outbidding teams for guys who will only moderately move the needle.

I do think the Detroit Pistons should be aggressive when trying to improve, but they can’t do it at the expense of their principles, nor common sense, especially in free agency.