Detroit Pistons: Important offseason dates for lottery, draft, free agency

Troy Weaver and the Detroit Pistons are entering an important offseason with a chance to improve significantly around star rookie Cade Cunningham.

The Pistons will have enough cap space (depending on what they do with their own options and free agents) to make a big splash in free agency, they’ll be adding a top-7 pick from the 2022 NBA Draft and have a trade asset (Jerami Grant) that could net them more draft capital and cap space.

Troy Weaver said he will “stay principled but be aggressive” in his approach, which means not reaching for free agents who might not move the needle for franchise.

It is an exciting time for Pistons fans, as the team is finally on the cusp of being good and the right moves could put the team in the postseason conversation next year.

Here are the most important dates for what is going to be a busy offseason for the Detroit Pistons.

When is the NBA Draft Lottery?

The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 17th. Let’s hope Ben Wallace (who represented the Pistons last year) can bring the same good luck.

When is the NBA Draft?

The 2022 NBA Draft will be held on June 23rd.

The Detroit Pistons are hoping to land a top-4 pick and have a 52.1 percent chance to do so, but they could fall as far as 7th. The Pistons will have the 46th pick in the second found via the Nets.

When does NBA free agency start?

Free agency officially opens on June 30th, one week after the draft.

By then the Pistons will know what they are going to do with Jerami Grant, as well as who they took in the 2022 NBA Draft, so their needs will be well defined. If the Pistons miss out on the top guys (LaVine, Ayton, Brunson etc..) they could be conservative and take a flyer on some of the second-tier free agents.

Teams can start giving offer sheets to restricted free agents on July 1st and trades and free agent signings become official on July 6th. The Pistons aren’t likely to make more than one offer for a major restricted free agent and it will be interesting to see if a team like Phoenix is willing to match a max offer sheet for Deandre Ayton.

If the Suns win a title or make the Finals again, it’s hard to imagine Ayton leaving, so the Pistons might turn their sites to a guard like Jalen Brunson, who is unrestricted.

When do Detroit Pistons have to make decisions on player options?

The Pistons will have to make decisions on team options for Hamidou Diallo, Frank Jackson and Luka Garza by June 28th.

Cory Joseph will have to decide whether to exercise his player option by June 28th as well. The Pistons have until June 29th to make a qualifying offer to Marvin Bagley III and Jamorko Pickett and to decide on the team option for Carsen Edwards.

When does NBA Summer league start for the Detroit Pistons?

NBA Summer League will be held from July 7-17 in Las Vegas. The Pistons will likely feature their drafted rookies as well as the deep bench guys fighting to stay on the roster.

It’s going to be an exciting few months that will hopefully end with some significant upgrades for the Detroit Pistons.