The Detroit Pistons are reportedly already doing their due diligence on a free agent to pursue this offseason, and that update alone suggests the No. 1 seed may be getting a head start on what could be a busy offseason if they come up short.
According to RealGM, the Pistons are close to a deal that will bring Isaac Bonga back to the NBA.
Bonga is currently playing for Partizan in Serbia, but after several strong showings as part of the German national team during the NBA Olympics, FIBA World Cup, and EuroBasket play, the forward has become a name on several teams' radar over the last couple of years.
Now with Detroit on the verge of elimination by the No. 8-seeded Orlando Magic, it seems as if the front office is already looking to address a need before their season ends.
The only problem, though, is the fact that the team's work in advance suggests that their focus may already be shifting to the offseason.
Pistons getting a head start may not be a good sign
Down 3-1, the Pistons have dug themselves into a hole that the last team to dig themselves out of needed multi-time MVP Nikola Jokic to do it.
Jalen Duren's bold claim suggests that Detroit has some level of confidence that they can swing the momentum in this series, but considering he's already made false claims in the past about his determination to play better, it's safe to take anything the big man says with a grain of salt right now.
Obviously, the Pistons ultimately control their own destiny, and with the injury update about Magic star Franz Wagner set to miss time, Detroit may have a window opening in their favor.
Despite that, with the front office putting their efforts into acquiring a player from overseas, it almost feels like the Pistons are trying to get a head start on the teams that are focused on advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
Not to mention, while Bonga is a good get, he doesn't exactly address the biggest concerns for the Motor City squad.
Isaac Bonga won't fix Pistons' issues
Bonga posted a solid season overseas, averaging 10.2 and 5.5 rebounds on 51% shooting from field goal range and 37% from three.
The 26-year-old offers much-needed size in the frontcourt and while Detroit certainly needs depth, it feels like if there's any position the Pistons should be doing due diligence on, it's to find a reliable running mate to take the pressure off of Cade Cunningham.
Adding scoring and playmaking should be of the utmost importance, and while Bonga checks certain boxes, he doesn't exactly check those.
At the same time, beggars can't be choosers, and with the lapses Detroit's bench has shown in the postseason, the team has to add any talent they can to J.B. Bickerstaff's rotation.
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