The Detroit Pistons are entering one of their most important offseasons in ages with a chance to bolster their roster and take the next step as a franchise.
They’ll have a top-7 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, some amount of cap space to spend (depending on what they do with their own guys) and some ammunition to make a trade.
After the Atlanta Hawks were eliminated from the playoffs, we talked about the possibility of a shake up that could lead to several of their guys being available on the free-agent market or in trades.
Last night, the Bulls were also eliminated, ending a season that was once full of promise but was undone by injuries.
The Bulls already have a ton of money tied up in DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso for next season, in addition to a super max contract looming for Zach LaVine.
The Bulls’ brass have to be wondering if a first-round playoff exit is the ceiling of this current team or if they are the team that was 1st or 2nd in the Eastern Conference for much of the season and just had some bad luck with injuries.
Either way, the Bulls are going to have some decisions to make, as they clearly need a few roster upgrades and a have a number of free agents and guys entering the final year of their deal.
The Detroit Pistons will have cap space and might have some degree of interest in six different players from the Bulls.
Detroit Pistons: Possible low-cost free agents from the Chicago Bulls
Troy Brown Jr.: Restricted free agent
Troy Brown Jr. is an interesting case, as he is just 22-years-old and flashed some talent this season and in the past. The Bulls clearly thought he had another level since they traded Daniel Gafford to Washington for him, but so far Brown Jr. hasn’t found it.
He did shoot a career-high 35.3 percent from 3-point range and improved his defense, but it’s hard to see the Bulls continuing to throw money at the former 1st-round pick. His QO is $7.2 million and I’d be shocked if the Bulls made it considering he’d almost certainly just accept the huge raise and be an unrestricted free agent next season. It’s more likely he hits the market.
He’s a potential low-cost guy to take a flyer on, as the talent is there, he is still very young and could potentially outplay a minimum deal. Troy Weaver has gone after guys like this in the past (Josh Jackson), so Brown Jr. might get some interest from the Pistons as a former 15th pick who might be a late bloomer.
Tony Bradley: Player option
Another first-round pick who hasn’t panned out, Tony Bradley is a 6-foot-10 center who played his best with OKC last season, averaging 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds on 65 percent shooting in 22 games.
Bradley has a player option for $2 million next season which he would be nuts to turn down, as he’s not likely to do better on the open market. He’d be a potential 3rd center option who is still just 24-years-old, but probably isn’t going anywhere.
Matt Thomas: Unrestricted free agent
If the Detroit Pistons wanted a shooter for their deep bench, then shooting guard Matt Thomas could be a cheap option. He has shot over 40 percent from 3-point range in his career, albeit in very limited playing time, and he will be on a league minimum deal. He’s a potential end-of-the-bench shooter that Detroit could take a flyer on if they have an open roster spot.
Detroit Pistons: Offseason targets from the Chicago Bulls
Derrick Jones Jr.: Unrestricted free agent
If you only looked at highlight-reel dunks, then Derrick Jones Jr. might be the top free agent out there, as he can flat-out fly.
The problem is that he can’t do much else, as he doesn’t score at a high level, can’t shoot and isn’t much of a playmaker.
He’s a decent defender who can use his athleticism to get steals. Sound familiar?
The Detroit Pistons basically already have their own Jones Jr. in Hamidou Diallo, who Detroit will have to make a decision on soon.
If they want a guy like this, they’ll just keep Diallo, who is younger and better.
Coby White: Expiring contract
Coby White will be entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $7.4 million next season. He averaged 12.7 points, three rebounds and 2.9 assists this season while shooting 38.5 percent from long range on 5.8 attempts per game.
The 22-year-old White was connected to the Pistons in rumors earlier this season in a possible trade for Jerami Grant (along with Derrick Jones Jr. and Patrick Williams) and he makes a lot of sense on the Pistons, who need someone who can score, especially from long range.
White can certainly do that, as he’s had some big games off the bench for the Bulls and is still just 22 with plenty of room to improve. The 6-foot-5 guard can play on or off the ball and profiles as the type of “instant offense” guy the Pistons thought they had in Frank Jackson.
The question is what it would take to get him. He’s on an expiring contract, so any team acquiring him would want some assurances of an extension. There’s also a chance the Bulls will extend him this offseason, as he was an important bench guy for them.
It’s hard to say what the Pistons could offer other than Grant, as they can’t trade a future first until they convey the one they owe to OKC and probably wouldn’t want to give up a first rounder anyway.
The fit is there, but without getting another team involved, it’s hard to see how the Detroit Pistons could get Coby White. Would a Hamidou Diallo/2nd-round pick package be enough? Probably not, but stay tuned.
Detroit Pistons: Zach LaVine would be the perfect fit
Zach LaVine will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and will be the most coveted name on the market.
Teams like the Portland Trail Blazers are probably preparing their offer now and LaVine will have no problem finding suitors if he wants to change teams.
The Bulls can offer him more money than anyone else, but LaVine might see the writing on the wall in Chicago, as DeRozan isn’t going to play like this forever, and even with him playing at an All-NBA level, the Bulls still lost in the first round. I was cheering against the Bulls all season, hoping LaVine would become jaded enough to leave.
LaVine would be the perfect fit in Detroit as a backcourt partner with Cade Cunningham, as he solves several of the Pistons’ needs in one guy.
You need scoring? LaVine gets 25 points per game. Need shooting? He shot 38.9 percent from 3-point range. He’s also a good playmaker, rebounder, has great size and is a quality defender who is in his prime, so you’d be hard pressed to find a better guy for the Detroit Pistons to add to their roster.
But it’s hard to see that happening, as the Bulls are going to back up the truck and unload piles of money, and if not, he’ll probably go to a team that is closer to contending. The question is who that team is, as there aren’t many contenders who have the cap space to add LaVine.
The two teams to watch are the Portland Trail Blazers and the Atlanta Hawks, who either have the cap space or assets to do a sign-and-trade.
The chances of LaVine coming to Detroit are slightly above zero (slightly) but until he signs I am going to continue to dream of a backcourt with him and Cade.