Detroit Pistons: The state of the restoration as the season starts

Detroit Pistons: State of the restoration

The money

Detroit has one of the best payroll situations in the league, so money-wise they are looking very good right now and will look even better after this season when even more dead money comes off the books.

Currently the Pistons do not have a single bad contact, as everyone is either on a rookie deal or a mid-range veteran contract that doesn’t extend past this season. After this season, their highest-paid player will be Marvin Bagley III, who will be making $12.5 million and the Pistons will only have one dead contract on the books in Dewayne Dedmon, who they owe $2.8 million per season through 2024-25.

Detroit could once again enter next offseason with the most cap space in the NBA, and this time, there will be more attractive free agents on which to use it.

Even if they can’t lure a big time free agent, having all of that cap space will allow Detroit to make trades and possibly take on another big salary.

With the young core in place and locked up on rookie deals, Detroit could splash out for a young veteran or two in free agency to complement their core.

One thing to watch is the extension for Saddiq Bey, as the market for his services might have been set already, and not overpaying a role player is going to be key to this restoration, as overpaying for mediocrity is what landed Detroit in this spot to begin with.

Having money in itself is meaningless unless you use it efficiently, so these next few seasons are going to be crucial for the Pistons, as they have to avoid having any bad contacts before all of their young guys get raises.

But money-wise, Detroit is in great shape.