After an impressive do-or-die win in game 6, the Detroit Pistons flamed out in dramatic fashion in game 7 in a contest that was essentially over before halftime.
In many ways, this season was a roaring success, but the playoffs exposed some weaknesses the Pistons will need to address. With eight players in some kind of contract limbo, Detroit could see major roster churn this summer.
Some of these players will be back and some won't as the Pistons try to figure out the puzzle around their superstar Cade Cunningham.
Tolu Smith could be the third centerÂ
Tolu Smith’s future with the Pistons really depends on what happens with the rest of their centers. He has a team option for next season and has played well enough to warrant a look as the third center if the Pistons make other moves. The Pistons are always looking for cheap options on the fringes, and Smith has at least proven he can hang in the NBA, but if they need his roster spot, he’s gone.Â
Tobias Harris could be back, but at what price?Â
Harris stepped up in the playoffs barring a miserable game 7, and if he had been Detroit’s 3rd or 4th option instead of their 2nd, they probably would have won. You can’t fault Harris, who played his best basketball of the season at the right time.
But let's be real, he was in far too large a role at this point in his career and the Pistons need to consider upgrades.
The Pistons would love to have their veteran security blanket back at a steep discount, but some other team may offer more for him to play a similar role after seeing him in the playoffs and he is an unrestricted free agent. Harris does seem to like Detroit, and has already made a heap of money, so it would be great if they could work out a team-friendly deal for him to have a bench role next season. Â
Kevin Huerter is gone
Huerter barely played in the playoffs and made no impact, which is disappointing considering he was one of the payoffs from the Jaden Ivey trade. The Pistons need what Huerter can offer, and on a minimum deal, I could see a reunion, but he’s not going to sniff the kind of money he made this season. The Pistons can do better and need someone who is more consistent and reliable, so my guess is we’ve seen the last of Huerter, who is an unrestricted free agent.Â
Javonte Green is a glue guy but can’t be a key contributorÂ
Javonte Green was great this season and held the Pistons together at times, but he was mostly unplayable in the playoffs when his 3-point shot abandoned him. Green was a reliable contributor over an 82-game season, and that is valuable enough to bring back on another small, short-term deal, but if he’s in their playoff rotation next year, the Pistons are in trouble.Â
Daniss Jenkins will be back
Jenkins was mostly a pleasant surprise in his first playoffs, and did show enough to warrant bringing back, though he obviously isn't a starting option long term. Jenkins looked the part of a back up point guard and I am sure the Pistons will pick up his team option to keep a productive player on a cheap deal even if they ultimately make upgrades at his position.
Paul Reed helped himself in the playoffsÂ
Reed was the Pistons’ best big man in the series against Cleveland, which is one of the big reasons they lost, but Reed did help himself in the process. He has just a partially guaranteed contract for next season that the Pistons will undoubtedly pick up. Depending on what happens with their center rotation, Reed could find himself in a bigger role next year. Either way, he’s valuable on a team-friendly contract.Â
Duncan Robinson may be goneÂ
Robinson’s contract is also partially guaranteed, and though he was good for the Pistons at times, they need an upgrade here. Robinson would be the perfect shooter coming off the bench in the kind of role Malik Beasley had, but he’s not a good enough defender to be a starter in the playoffs.
The Pistons could renounce his deal for the cap space or could guarantee it to use as a matching salary in a trade. Detroit values Robinson’s shooting, but ultimately, the contract or cap space may be more valuable.Â
Jalen Duren is the biggest question of the offseasonÂ
Duren was bad in the playoffs, there is no other way to say it. The main reason the Pistons is that he and Beef Stew were dominated by Allen and Mobley, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have a future in Detroit. Â
The big man is still only 22-years-old and has improved every year he’s been in the NBA, so there is no reason to think that won’t continue. He needs to add to his offensive bag and still needs defensive improvement, but it’s not hopeless.Â
HOWEVERÂ
If some other team wants to offer Duren anything close to a max deal, it’s going to be hard for the Pistons to match it, as he was unplayable for much of the playoffs.
There are also questions about his fit with Ausar Thompson, and the latter proved himself to be invaluable in the playoffs, so if they are going to split them up, Duren will be the one to go.
Expect to hear his name in myriad trade rumors this summer, but if I had to bet, I’d say he’ll be back in Detroit next season with a little less money in his pocket than he was expecting.Â
It was a disappointing thud to an otherwise entertaining and successful season that I won't soon forget. The Pistons made progress, took their lumps and will be better for it, but they have a lot of big decisions to make this summer, and for the first time in Detroit, Trajan Langdon will be under pressure.
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