The Detroit Pistons need more time to evaluate their young roster.
Jaden Ivey only played 30 games this season. Ausar Thompson missed last year’s training camp and start of the season and was only able to play 59 games, few of them with Ivey. Ron Holland is still just 19-years-old, so the Pistons still have a lot to learn before they make any big decisions about their long-term roster.
Trajan Langdon has talked about patience, and he should, as there is no reason to rush things, especially when the Pistons will be set up with three big trade assets at next year’s deadline.
Simone Fontecchio
The Pistons could really use a bounce-back year from Fontecchio or to upgrade his spot, as he only shot 33 percent from long range and didn’t offer much else, though he is a favorite of coach JB Bickerstaff.
Fontecchio will be on an $8 million expiring contract next season, and if he has a good one, teams will be calling at the deadline, as teams always want to add shooting at a bargain. As an expiring deal, it’s also nice filler for a bigger trade, especially considering the Pistons don’t have many tradable contacts to stack up.
It’s hard to imagine Detroit has long-term ambitions for Fontecchio, who will be 30 years old next season, so they could flip him for a minor asset, upgrade or package his contract with another one as an expiring deal.
Tobias Harris
Harris is also on an expiring deal, one that could end up being very valuable to the Pistons if they do decide to swing for a big move next season.
The Pistons clearly value Harris’ leadership and professionalism, so it’s hard to imagine them shopping him and easier to imagine a team-friendly extension that keeps in him Detroit for a few more seasons.
But if they want to trade for a bigger salary (or a guy that will soon be on one), Harris’ deal would almost have to be involved, as it’s the only big one the Pistons have other than Cade Cunningham, who isn’t going anywhere.
Harris can still play, so he’s not dead money by any means, but he’s on a medium-sized expiring contract that the Pistons would need to facilitate any big deal.
Ron Holland II
One of the biggest questions the Pistons have is whether Ron Holland and Ausar Thompson can co-exist for the long term. I’m not that worried about it, as I have strong belief that both of them are going to improve offensively and I love the idea of having two wing defenders who get after it.
I predict big breakout seasons for both of these guys, and if that happens, no one will be talking about trading either of them.
But there is some overlap skill-wise, and if the Pistons found a trade partner (New Orleans comes to mind) that wants a young player, expiring contracts and picks, then Holland could be the one on the table, as he is the youngest, under team control for the longest and has a high ceiling.
There could be a lot of player movement via trade in the NBA this summer, so it’s always possible the Pistons will be involved in ways that make some of this irrelevant, but if they wait until next year’s deadline they will have more information about their core and will be better positioned to make a big move if they feel one is necessary or too good to pass up.