Which players should the Detroit Pistons extend this summer?

Which players should the Detroit Pistons extend this summer?

James Wiseman

Qualifying offer: $15.8 million

Killian Hayes

Qualifying offer: $9.9 million

Count me as one who is still very dubious of the trade that brought James Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons. It isn’t because Saddiq Bey is so great or because Wiseman is terrible, but because he wasn’t a fit on the roster and I’m not sure he ever will be.

But Troy Weaver cannot compound that mistake by giving Wiseman an extension this summer without really seeing what he can bring to this team at full strength. There is not enough evidence yet, so there is no reason to commit to him long term.

Wiseman’s qualifying offer is a whopping $15.8 million, but I wouldn’t offer him that unless it was spread over three years. Weaver is known for falling in love with certain players and Wiseman appears to be one of them, but when you look at the playoffs and see how few traditional centers there are (I count three and one of them is Joel Embiid, who hardly represents a “typical” center), it’s hard to justify paying Wiseman, who should be a backup, anything more than backup center money. He should be allowed to play out the final year of his contract and see what happens.

He’d only be a restricted free agent, so if the Pistons want to keep him, they will have a chance, but there is no need to risk it now.

Same for Killian Hayes, who did show some improvement this season but is still the worst shooter in the NBA and too inconsistent at the things he actually does well. His defense comes and goes and his passing is often neutralized by the fact that you don’t have to worry about his shot.

I still have hope for Hayes, as guys who can defend are valuable even if they can’t score, but there is no reason to give him an extension until he proves he can be a competent backup for the whole season and accept that role.

If not, the Detroit Pistons could end up trading him this summer or sometime next season to avoid losing him for nothing, but what they can’t do is offer up a big extension to a guy who hasn’t yet earned it. Hayes’ qualifying offer is $9.9 million and to offer him that would be lunacy.