Glaring problem the Pistons could fix in free agency right now

Trajan Langdon and the Detroit Pistons elected to keep an open roster spot and $10 million in cap space going into the season, citing financial flexibility as the main reason. 

It does make sense, as the Pistons roster is not in its final form if they ever want to make the playoffs again and they have several veteran contracts they may be able to move, either to take on draft assets or as part of a package for a star. 

But that left them with a glaring need for a backup veteran point guard, which has become even more evident in the first four games. The Pistons have struggled to score in stretches with Cade Cunningham off the floor and Jaden Ivey has been much better off the ball than on it. 

The Pistons will have to balance this need against their desire to stay flexible, as signing a free-agent point guard isn’t likely to be the difference between making the playoffs or not, as there are larger problems looming. 

If the Pistons do want to fill that role, there are a couple of free-agent point guards they could sign right now. 

Detroit Pistons free agency: Backup point guard 

One of the ripple effects of the new CBA with its more prohibitive tax penalties is that players in the mid-tier salary-wise are finding it harder to find big paydays and even jobs. 

With teams spending more at the top of the payroll, they are increasingly looking for cheap, minimum salary talent to fill out the back end of the roster, which is going to make hitting on second-round draft picks even more important and could make them more valuable in trades as teams try to stay away from guaranteed money. 

That has left free agents like Markelle Fultz without jobs, as he’s not a minimum guy, but likely not worth what he is commanding either. I have no idea what Fultz’s demands are, as it seems as though he would have found a team by now if he were willing to work at the minimum rate. 

If he is, the Pistons could take a flyer and why not? They’d still have a small amount of cap space and have roster moves they can make at any time to open a spot if they need it. Fultz is a competent defender and can run the offense in stretches with shooters around him. 

He can’t shoot himself, which is an issue, but if he could, he wouldn’t be unemployed.  

The Pistons could also revisit Dennis Smith Jr, another flawed player, but one who could provide some defense off the bench, as the Pistons’ POA defense is atrocious when Ivey is the lead guard flanked by Malik Beasley. 

There aren’t a ton of minutes for another guard, as Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are going to get the bulk of them, but it’s an idea worth exploring and competition can’t hurt.