The Detroit Pistons have one of the best payroll situations in the NBA, as they don’t have a single horrible contract and will have a lot of money potentially coming off the books soon.
They will once again likely have the most cap space in the NBA heading into the 2023 offseason, and should be big players in a free-agent class that is loaded with talent.
But they will also have seven of their own players to make decisions on, as the Pistons have team options that are right around the corner, as well as several players who will need to show that they should be part of the future.
Here are the Detroit Pistons seven team options for the 2023-24 season and which ones they are most likely to exercise.
Detroit Pistons’ team options for 2023-24
The veterans: Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel
Troy Weaver was happy to add Burks and Noel as part of a draft trade this offseason, as they are both valuable veterans on good contracts.
The Pistons needed some veteran depth, as they are mostly running a very young group out there, and Burks and Noel both have skillsets that are going to help Detroit.
Burks has a $10.4 million option for 2023-24 and Noel will be paid $9.6 million if the Pistons decide to keep him around.
They don’t have to make their decision until June of next year, but it’s far more likely that we will know their fate at the trade deadline of this season.
If they are still around, it probably means the Pistons are playing well and hoping to contend for a play-in spot, but if that is not happening, their non-guaranteed contracts are going to be very easy to move.
Of these two, I’d say Burks is the most likely to return, as the Detroit Pistons still lack shooting and don’t have as much depth at his position. Detroit may decide to move Noel (in order to play Jalen Duren more late in the season) so might not even have to decide on his option.