Detroit Pistons: One big name or more depth in free agency?

Detroit Pistons: One big name or more depth in free agency?

Spread it around in free agency

I am on the record as saying I think it is more likely that the Detroit Pistons fine-tune their roster with trades, as they have too many bigs, but they could just trade one of them for a 2nd-round pick and open up another roster spot.

So in this scenario, the Pistons go for depth with their cap space instead of just one guy. I’m just going to choose two players that are likely near that price range, so I am not advocating for these two necessarily but they will give you an idea.

• Cade Cunningham/Killian Hayes/Marcus Sasser
• Jaden Ivey/Alec Burks
• Bojan Bogdanovic/Ausar Thompson/Max Strus
• Dillon Brooks/Isaiah Stewart
• Jalen Duren/James Wiseman/Marvin Bagley III

In this scenario the Pistons sign Dillon Brooks and Max Strus for around what it would cost to sign Cam Johnson.

The problem with this is that the Pistons don’t currently have the roster space (that can be fixed easily) and that they might not have minutes for all of these players, especially a guy like Strus.

But after suffering through myriad injuries last season and rarely having even close to a full team, would having the depth to withstand injuries be the worst thing? Guys like Strus and Burks can slide into any number of lineups, and Brooks and Stewart would give coach Williams the defensive flexibility to go big or small depending on matchups.

There is also a scenario where the Pistons just dump one of Wiseman or Bagley III and go into next season with a roster pretty close to what they have now. I think the final product will be closer to that than either of the scenarios I’ve laid out, but Weaver has played his cards pretty close to the chest so far.

We’ll soon know more, as today will be one of the busiest of the year in the NBA and the Detroit Pistons will be involved one way or another.