Several of the Detroit Pistons’ key veterans are taking turns having bad games in their first-round series against the Knicks.
Malik Beasley was good in game one only to disappear in games two and three. Tim Hardaway Jr. couldn't make anything in game two but was red-hot in game three.
Tobias Harris was effective in the first two games but disappeared last night when he got into early foul trouble.
The Pistons won’t be happy about going down 2-1 in the series, but they’ve yet to play their best basketball, which should give them some hope of turning it around.
Dennis Schroder has been huge in the last two games, racking up 38 combined points and often looking like the most composed player on the floor.
It’s fair to say that these playoff performances will have a ripple effect on the Pistons’ offseason, and right now, Schroder is the free agent making the strongest case to come back.
Pistons free agents: Will Detroit be able to keep Dennis Schroder?
The Pistons have four key players entering free agency this summer in Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroder and Paul Reed and it’s going to be difficult to bring them all back.
As good as THJ and Beasley have been this season, it’s doubtful that both of them return, as they need another consistent scorer next to Cade Cunningham. It’s possible that player is already on the team in Jaden Ivey, but it’s going to be tough to carry two streaky shooters, especially after the feast or famine playoffs they have had so far.
Schroder has shown consistency since the Pistons traded for him and the team went 17-11 after the trade deadline with Schroder in the lineup.
He improved the bench and took some of the heat off Cade Cunningham. And maybe most importantly, Schroder has shown he’s a big game performer, a trait this young team will need going forward.
But every other team is seeing this too and the Pistons will have to bid for Schroder’s services just like everyone else, which may drive up the price of his next contract.
As good as he has been, there is a limit on how much the Pistons can pay a backup point guard, especially when they saw promising signs from Marcus Sasser as a much cheaper guard option.
Trajan Langdon doesn’t have to make huge changes to his roster, but this series has exposed some clear needs that may make free-agent decisions more difficult.
Schroder may be playing himself out of the Pistons’ price range, but there’s definitely an argument that Detroit should prioritize retaining him over some of their other free agents.