Detroit Pistons: Not much to steal in restricted free agency

The Detroit Pistons are hoping not to be terrible next season and will be relying on four things to get there.

The first is the return of Cade Cunningham, their best player, who has missed all but 12 games this season. They will also have a chance to add impact talent in the draft, but we all know that is a crapshoot unless the Pistons are lucky enough to win the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.

The Detroit Pistons may need to make trades, a their roster is currently unbalanced and they already have 10 of this 15-win team locked up for next season.

They will also have cap space to add impact free agents, though this offseason is not loaded with them, especially at Detroit’s biggest position of need, which is on the wing. They can sign some players outright, but having cap space also gives teams some leverage in restricted free agency, as they can steal players away from teams that may not have cap space to match offer sheets.

But a quick look at restricted free agency for this offseason shows that there is very little to steal, though there are a couple of scrappy defenders, who will be on cheap deals, and two wings who are talented but may get overpaid.

Detroit Pistons: Cheap restricted free-agent defenders

Ayo Dosunmu

Dosunmu is a player the Pistons might be able to steal from the Bulls in restricted free agency, though he is certainly not the big name fans are hoping for. Dosunmu has pretty much matched the numbers from his rookie season, though his 3-point shooting has taken a dip in this one.

Dosunmu is a versatile defender who can guard a few spots on the perimeter, makes hustle plays and provides energy, and could be a cheap replacement for Hamidou Diallo if Detroit decides not to try and retain him.

Obviously Dosunmu is not going to improve this team on his own, but he could be a nice addition to the bench that doesn’t cost much.