Troy Weaver has a tough job this offseason as GM of the Detroit Pistons.
He has to try to improve this woeful 16-win team, as his job may be at stake if he doesn’t, but he also has to resist the urge to go “all-in” on the wrong free agents.
This is exactly how the Pistons got in trouble in the past, by overpaying free agents who didn’t meet expectations. It’s not an easy task, as coaches and GMs are under pressure to win and sometimes that pressure can lead to mistakes in judgement, as we learned all-too-well in the Stan Van Gundy era.
Weaver seems to have the faith and patience of the franchise, so if the Pistons improve moderately next season, he should be fine and in a good position to make a big move in 2024, when there is a better group of free agents.
Here are three players that I like, and would be nice fits on the Detroit Pistons, but only at the right price.
3 free agents the Detroit Pistons can’t overpay
#1: Hamidou Diallo
Let’s start with the Pistons’ own unrestricted free agent Hamidou Diallo. Diallo had a nice season before going down with injury, cementing himself as Detroit’s best defense/energy guy off the bench.
But he still can’t shoot at all, and that’s a problem for a team that is dead last in the league in shooting percentage and 28th in points per game.
Diallo does some good things that teams need, as he always plays 100 percent, is very efficient at the rim and is good at jumping into passing lanes for steals.
But in addition to his shooting issues, he’s also not a great on the ball defender and is not a guy you would turn to to get a stop on the wing in a big moment.
The Pistons probably have some interest in bringing Diallo back, but it can’t be for more than his last deal, as there are minimum guys around the league who may be able to offer similar production, and Diallo may not even be in the rotation depending on what other moves are made.
We know Diallo is Weaver’s guy, as he was part of the team that drafted him in OKC, but he has to resist the urge to pay him big-time money.