Which players should the Detroit Pistons extend this summer?
The Detroit Pistons are entering what could be a very busy offseason.
They have to hire a new coach, the NBA Draft Lottery is two weeks away, then they will have the draft and free agency to try and add impact talent to a roster that just put up the worst win total in the NBA.
The Pistons also have to make decisions about their own players, as they have several who have team options that have to be decided soon and more who are due for extensions.
Choosing the right players to extend is crucial for a team that doesn’t want to get stuck with dead money on the books for players who are not performing.
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The 2020 draft class is all up for extensions this summer, so which ones should the Detroit Pistons pursue?
Which players should the Detroit Pistons extend this summer?
Alec Burks
Isaiah Livers
Let’s start with the two guys who have team options for next season that have not yet been exercised. The Detroit Pistons have to make decisions about those options by the end of June, so they have another two months (roughly) and will know who they have secured in the NBA Draft by that point.
I’d guess that the Pistons will exercise the options on both players, as both represent value, but what about extensions? Burks could be trade bait this summer, but even if he is, the Pistons would be smart to extend him for two more years at the same rate. He’s never likely to be a sunk cost, as his ability to hit 3-point shots will play well into his mid 30’s. His trade value might even be higher if he were locked into a moderate two-year deal.
Same for Isaiah Livers, who was disappointing this season, but has the ability to be that glue 3-and-D guy off the bench that the Piston are missing. His qualifying offer is only $2.2 million, so the Pistons would be smart to lock him into a deal at that rate and hope he outplays it.