The Detroit Pistons have several key players about to hit free agency, and the only one who isn’t likely to be back is Kevin Huerter.Â
Most of the focus has been on restricted free agent Jalen Duren as the Pistons try to work out a fair deal with their center after an All-NBA regular season was followed by a less-than-stellar postseason.Â
Tobias Harris is an unrestricted free agent that the Pistons would be wise to bring back, as his reliability may allow them to take bigger risks elsewhere, and they don’t have any internal options to replace him.Â
Daniss Jenkins has a team option that I am sure Detroit will exercise, as he proved in the playoffs that he’s at least worth a look as the backup point guard.Â
Javonte Green isn’t a decision the Pistons will have to make right away. The journeyman was a valuable regular season contributor but couldn’t get much run in the playoffs. It will be hard to find an upgrade at that price, so if they can bring him back, Green provides reliable regular-season depth if nothing else.Â
Beat reporter Omari Sankofa II thinks all of these guys will be back, and other than Green, I agree, and I’d also agree that Kevin Huerter should be packing his bags.Â
Kevin Huerter never found his shotÂ
Huerter flashed a bit of what the Pistons needed at times but wasn’t nearly reliable enough for them to bring him back. He was in and out of the lineup with injuries and couldn’t go for most of the playoffs, though he might not have played anyway.Â
The Pistons need 3-point shooting and Huerter shot just 30.8 percent on the season and under 30 percent with the Pistons. Whether you think he can regain that shot or not, the Pistons don’t have time for players to find themselves if they want to compete for titles.Â
Detroit’s bench was a net negative in the playoffs and one of the main reasons they couldn’t get past Cleveland, so Detroit will need more reliable scoring punch off their bench than they got from the likes of Huerter and Caris LeVert.Â
Hopefully, Detroit will upgrade on the wing and at power forward, pushing Duncan Robinson and Tobias Harris to the bench where they can be much more effective and provide the bench scoring the Pistons were starved for in the playoffs.Â
The Pistons should retain most of their free agents, but Huerter’s spot is one that they need to upgrade, so It's highly doubtful he’ll be back in Detroit next season, which will make this year’s 21st pick the lone payoff from the Jaden Ivey trade.Â
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