Expiring deals the Detroit Pistons could target
There are some interesting players heading into the final year of their rookie deals, including two Detroit Pistons.
The deadline for rookie extensions is just over a month away and it doesn’t appear that Killian Hayes or James Wiseman will be getting one.
A few players from the 2020 draft class have already inked big extensions, including LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Desmond Bane and the Pistons’ own Isaiah Stewart.
But there are still plenty of guys out there who need to sign an extension fast or will head into next year on expiring contracts that would lead to restricted free agency.
Related Story. Troy Weaver has a tough call on Bojan Bogdanovic. light
These players could not only be potential free agent targets next offseason (the Pistons should again have money to spend) but could also be trade targets during the season if their current teams don’t plan on re-signing them.
Detroit Pistons: Extension-eligible players who could be headed for restricted free agency
Some of these players will likely still sign extensions before next season starts, and others are sure to be retained in free agency. Others are not great fits with the Detroit Pistons, so this list can be narrowed considerably:
- James Wiseman (Pistons)
- Patrick Williams (Bulls)
- Onyeka Okongwu (Hawks)
- Killian Hayes (Pistons)
- Obi Toppin (Pacers)
- Deni Avdija (Wizards)
- Devin Vassell (Spurs)
- Kira Lewis Jr. (Pelicans)
- Aaron Nesmith (Pacers)
- Cole Anthony (Magic)
- Chuma Okeke (Magic)
- Aleksej Pokusevski (Thunder)
- Josh Green (Dallas)
- Saddiq Bey (Hawks)
- Precious Achiuwa (Raptors)
- Tyrese Maxey (76ers)
- Zeke Nnaji (Nuggets)
- Immanuel Quickley (Knicks)
- Payton Pritchard (Celtics)
- Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves)
- Malachi Flynn (Raptors)
Of these players, Jaden McDaniels seems the most likely to sign an extension before the season, which is a shame, as he’d be the perfect target for the Detroit Pistons.
Onyeka Okongwu and Saddiq Bey could also get reasonable extensions from the Hawks before next season begins.
Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley will likely go to restricted free agency because of their respective teams’ financial situations, but I’d be surprised if they don’t re-sign, especially in the case of Maxey.
You can probably rule out Toppin, Avdija, Anthony, Vassell, Green and Pritchard, as all of them are also likely to stay with their current squads. It’s doubtful the Detroit Pistons would have any interest in Kira Lewis Jr. (bust worse than Killian) or Precious Achiuwa, as he has too much overlap with Stewart.
Zeke Nnaji is an interesting option at power forward who I wrote about recently and has the defense and shooting to be a fit with the Pistons.
But there are two others who stand out as possibilities to reach free agency who could end up being trade or free-agent targets for the Detroit Pistons.