If the Detroit Pistons want to make a leap to playoff contention in the near future, they will need an influx of talent from somewhere other than the draft.
While collecting promising young talent is nice, eventually teams need some adult players to actually win games. Detroit will be in a good position to add to their talented young core, which will hopefully improve as this season goes along and give the Pistons some franchise momentum heading into the offseason.
Obviously, adding a franchise-altering talent like Victor Wembanyama would help, but Detroit certainly can’t count on that happening even if they do end up at the bottom of the league this season.
The Pistons will have money to spend next offseason, but free agency is another area they may not be able to count on to fill their needs.
Detroit Pistons: Needs and solutions
When you are near the bottom of the league in both offense and defense, it’s safe to say you need talent just about everywhere.
The Pistons don’t necessarily need to add another star player, but they do need a lot more depth, as right now they have guys in the rotation who really shouldn’t be there. Replacing Cory Joseph, Hamidou Diallo, Rodney McGruder and Kevin Knox with quality role players would go a long way towards solving some of their problems.
The Pistons biggest roster weakness (in my opinion) is their lack of defense on the wing, so adding an athletic forward who can defend (being able to shoot would also be nice) should be a priority.
We took an early look at the 2023 free agency class, and there were some intriguing names that are no longer going to be available in free agency. I thought Andrew Wiggins would have been the perfect addition given his age, experience and skillset, but he was since extended by the Warriors.
DeAndre Hunter and Brandon Clarke were both extended, as was sharpshooter Jordan Poole, so some of the best options have already been removed.
There are still some intriguing names among the free agents that remain, but not all of them are good fits and could end up staying where they are.
Detroit Pistons: 2023 NBA free agents, options and fits
There are some veterans who would likely help the Detroit Pistons and look like fits on paper, but not all of them will be available:
- Khris Middleton: The former Piston has a player option for $35 million next season, and it’s hard to see him walking away from that money or the chance to win more titles with the Bucks. He’s a good defender and a great shooter, but he’ll likely either play out his contract in Milwaukee or sign an extension at some point to stay.
- Kristaps Porzingis: Porzingis would give the Pistons a boost of scoring and shot blocking, but he too has a massive player option for the 2023-24 season. He’s due to make $31 million next season and the way he is playing right now, will probably get another big contract after that. His injury history makes him a risk on a max deal, so it will be interesting to see what the Wizards do.
- Draymond Green: Green has expressed some interest in playing for the Pistons, and theoretically his skill set is one they need. He’s had very public contract negotiations with the Warriors and was reportedly not happy when he wasn’t offered an extension. He’s set to make $24 million next season and probably wants a raise after winning another ring. For all of the talk, I can’t see the Warriors breaking up their Big 3 until they can’t win any more, and who knows, maybe that year is here, as they are just 4-7 in the young season. I do think Draymond would help this young team, especially defensively, so if he opted out, he’s an option, but does Detroit really want to be paying big bucks for a guy in the latter stages of his career? If he were available, I’d probably take a risk on a 2-year deal, but that probably won’t be enough to entice Green to leave the Warriors. I think he’ll end up staying in Golden State.
- Kevin Love: Love is 34, and although the Pistons could use his shooting, he wouldn’t help their defense and is better suited to be on the type of team he is on now, which has defenders that can hide him.
- Kyle Kuzma: Kuzma is another guy who has a player option for next season, but he could turn it down, as it is for $13 million and he is having one of the best all-around seasons of his career. He would certainly get more than that on the open market, so if Kuzma turns down his option, he might be a possibility for Detroit. Kuzma is a pretty good defender and decent 3-point shooter who can rebound, so he’s one to keep an eye on if he hits the market. Would he really move the needle for the Pistons? On the right deal, I’d definitely consider Kuzma.
Detroit Pistons: 2023 NBA free agent possibilities
Here are the rest of the forwards that are projected to be free agents next offseason:
- Harrison Barnes: Has struggled so far this season. At his peak, he was a pretty good 3-and-D option, but his shooting has taken a huge dip so far this season. We’ll have to wait and see if he turns things around. He is just 30, so will be a name to watch, though not the most exciting one. I’d rather have Kuzma.
- Jerami Grant: He’s playing great right now for the Trail Blazers and has arguably been the MVP of their hot start this season. But we’ve been down that road and there are obvious questions about fit with their current roster.
- Kelly Oubre Jr.: He’s having the best season of his career and will definitely get a raise from someone. He would give the Pistons some much-needed athleticism on the wing and would certainly bolster their depth, but at what cost? I would love him as a bench piece who comes in and scores in bunches, far less as a starter making $25 million a season. He’s a possibility, and the right age, but could be a guy who is just putting up numbers (18 points per game) on a bad team.
- Derrick Jones Jr.: I’d rather see the Pistons take a risk on a guy like Derrick Jones Jr. than to pay big money for someone who might not move the needle. He’s athletic, can defend, and probably won’t break the bank, but he’s pretty much Hamidou Diallo, as he can’t score, so I’m not sure he’d be much of an upgrade.
- PJ Washington: He can block shots and shoot a little, so he’s another guy the Pistons might be interested in as a bench piece, but Washington obviously views himself as a starter. He’s better than Marvin Bagley III in some areas, but there are some questions of how he would fit into the rotation and he’ll be a restricted free agent.
- Grant Williams: I like Williams and wrote about him as a possibility already. He’s tough, can defend on the wing and is currently shooting over 51 percent from 3-point range. But he’s a role player on a very good team, so is he really good or is he just the product of a well-built team? He would be a risk, as he’d be asked to do more in Detroit, and he may just be more of a good role player on a good team.
The rest of the list is mostly populated by players with injury histories, who are past their prime, or middling young players who haven’t yet proven themselves.
It’s a deep group of names, but not all of them will be there or really fill the Detroit Pistons’ needs, so they may have to turn to trades to find their guy. I think we’re going to see Troy Weaver scouring the league for trades, as the free-agent options are limited.