Return or Burn: Which free agents should the Pistons bring back?

Detroit Pistons: Return or burn?

Isaiah Livers, Club Option – $1.8 million

Livers is a player that I’ve liked since the Wolverines made their last Final Four run. He was an ideal second-round pick for the Pistons in 2021. In his two seasons here, he’s averaged a good 20 minutes a night. He played all four collegiate seasons at Michigan and showed up to the NBA ready to play basketball. He shoots the 3-ball well enough (38 percent for his pro career), but his numbers have dropped nearly across the board compared to last season. At 6-foot-7, Livers has some length, and there is still plenty of potential in there for the 24 year-old Michigan man to become a 3-and-D guy that is coveted league-wide. But that’s the upside. The downside is he hasn’t done it consistently, stayed on the floor enough and is a sub-par isolation defender.

All things considered, the Detroit Pistons need to pick that option him and give him hard look in a make-or-break campaign for the young man. He’ll either play his way into the nucleus, or out of it.

Conclusion: Return

Hamidou Diallo: Unrestricted Free Agent

This is perhaps the hardest decision of all as far as this list of players goes. Hamidou Diallo is an exciting athlete who meshes nicely with players like Alec Burks off the bench. Diallo’s real value to the team comes as a defender and energy guy. He’s a good rebounder, especially for his height and he’s still just 24 years old and has room for improvement, but he also has some glaring warts.

It is hard to be a wing in todays NBA and shoot just 28 percent from outside the arc. And for someone who can attack the basket so well, a 59 percent free throw percentage isn’t much to get excited about, either.

I’ve enjoyed watching Diallo while he’s been a Piston, even though his play can be frustrating. If he’s content being an energy player off the bench that only gets a handful of minutes a game, and content to be paid accordingly, I wouldn’t shoo him away. But at his age, it’s hard to imagine that there isn’t another team anywhere that’s willing to gamble on the athleticism and try to “fix” the shooting. I think someone comes calling with a multi-year deal that the Pistons just can’t – shouldn’t – match.

Conclusion: Burn