The Detroit Pistons are searching for answers this offseason, but not every move the team makes needs to be drastic.
Detroit hopes to find a second option for Cade Cunningham before their star guard grows frustrated, but it doesn't mean the team should overthink their offseason and mortgage their future for aging veterans.
Trajan Langdon needs to solve several problems that plagued them in the offseason, and of the pathways he could choose from, perhaps the most ideal is to simply give Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti a call.
Thunder have several tough decisions to make that could help the Pistons
The reigning NBA champions have tough decisions of their own to make this offseason after being knocked out in the Western Conference Finals by the surging San Antonio Spurs.
Oklahoma City currently has all 15 players from this season's playoff team under contract heading into next year, but by the time the offseason comes to an end, it's all but guaranteed that the Thunder's roster won't look the same.
OKC has looming decisions to make regarding the future of several key pieces, including Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and even Alex Caruso.
It's almost safe to assume that at least two of the above players will return next year, but one of those names will be on the move. Should any interest the Pistons? Maybe, but those may not be the cheap options Detroit should be interested in.
The arrival of Jared McCain at the NBA trade deadline shuffled the team's playoff rotation drastically, and in turn, several key pieces seemed destined to be involved in offseason talks.
Two names in particular that come to mind are Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, both offensive sparkplugs who could immediately be a boost in the Motor City at a discounted price.
Wiggins finished the season averaging 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 43.1% shooting from field goal range and 35.6% from beyond the arc.
As for Joe, his 11.1 points per game this season on shooting splits of 45.5% from field goal range and 42.3% from three offers yet another intriguing backcourt option that could interest the Pistons at a discounted price.
But if the Pistons really want to try their hand at a big upside swing, they should be calling OKC about Ajay Mitchell's availability.
Ajay Mitchell would be the perfect swing to pair next to Cade
Ajay Mitchell may be the biggest talking point about the Thunder's offseason plans, not only because of his breakout sophomore season, averaging 13.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds on 48.5% shooting from the floor and 34.7% clip from three, but because of his extremely cheap contract.
The former second-round gem has become Presti's latest draft night steal, and his future in OKC is up in the air solely because of the abundance of talent in the backcourt and decisions the team has to make.
For the Pistons, Mitchell could be the exact complement they need to elevate Cade Cunningham in the backcourt and take the offensive burden off his hands, while also taking a swing at a talent who could develop into their long-term plans.
Add us as a preferred source on Google