Pistons missed on one unicorn but could target another in free agency

The Detroit Pistons will not be drafting Victor Wembanyama after dropping all the way to 5th in the NBA Draft Lottery.

It was a disappointment to be sure, but the world keeps spinning and there are still future games to be played. Let’s also not forget that former #1 pick Cade Cunningham will be returning (hopefully healthier than ever), so it’s not like the cupboard is completely bare.

Now comes the hard part for Troy Weaver, who is under pressure to put a competitive team on the floor after four years of tanking, player development and asset collection.

Luckily the Detroit Pistons will enter free agency with plenty of money, but they also have a lot of holes to fill, so I don’t envy Weaver’s job this summers, as he has a lot of work to do on this roster if they are really going to compete in the Eastern Conference next season.

Missing on the chance to draft a generational prospect is never fun, but if the Pistons make the right moves this summer, they could get into the thick of the play-in race and make the kind of improvement fans want to see.

Detroit Pistons in NBA free agency

Free agency is going to be a delicate balancing act for the Detroit Pistons. While they want to add impact talent, they can’t overreach to get it. There are players out there who may be available in free agency or trades and would be worth the price it takes to get them.

But there are other that the Pistons can’t overpay, as giving a big deal to the wrong player could significantly hamper Detroit’s ability to improve in the future.

Missing on Victor Wembanyama was not fun, but it was also expected, as Detroit only had a 14 percent chance to get the #1 pick, a fact that many of the “lottery is rigged” truthers (go away) conveniently ignore.

But there may be another “unicorn” player available who would also be a great fit on the Detroit Pistons.