Pistons vs. Bulls: Which team is in a better position?

Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls: Cap space and picks

Both of these teams are obviously hoping to improve next season, but which team is in the better position to do so?

The Pistons will enter the offseason with the 6th-most cap space in the league, while the Bulls will be just 17th and will have to make moves to have any cap space at all. Detroit is in the position to land at least two quality free agents, while the Bulls will have around $11 million to spend according to Spotrac.

Of course, teams can also make trades, but the Bulls don’t have much in the way of assets in terms of players or future picks.

The Bulls are not likely to have any first-round picks for the foreseeable future because of the disastrous trade for Vucevic, which they foolishly made thinking they were on the cusp of being contenders. That didn’t happen, and now Orlando is going to get their pick this offseason unless it falls in the top-4, so it’s not likely the Bulls will be adding impact talent via the draft.

The Pistons also owe their pick to the Knicks, but the protections make it so it won’t convey this season and maybe never. Owing this pick has hampered Detroit when it comes to making trades, but at least they are still in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, and after this season won’t really need more young players on the roster.

The Bulls will probably win tonight, but in the end, they are a franchise without a clear direction, as they are not good enough to be good and not bad enough to contend for a top pick, which they don’t have anyway.

Detroit may end up passing them by soon, and it will probably be awhile before these two teams are truly rivals again.