Mid-level possibilities for the Pistons are the gravy

The Detroit Pistons have several ways to add talent this summer, and they will have to utilize them all to max out their roster. 

The Pistons aren’t likely to have cap space to use in free agency, so their best routes may be to make trades and use the mid-level exception after they negotiate extensions with Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson. 

The MLE should be around $15 million, which will give the Pistons some interesting free agent options. 

Players the Pistons could sign with the MLE 

-Andrew Wiggins: Wiggins may opt out of his final year to seek a long-term deal, and though he’d be nice as a two-way wing, he’ll likely get more from the MLE and could be used in the Giannis trade. 

-Rui Hachimura: Hmmmmm. Hachimura checks a box as a four who can shoot the 3-ball, and he raised some eyebrows as a playoff riser this season who shot the lights out from long range in the postseason. He could be available for around the MLE if one of the cap space teams doesn’t offer more. 

-Quentin Grimes: Will probably have to settle for the MLE, but the Pistons have been down this road and may not want to re-visit it. 

-Kristaps Porzingis: He’ll have to take less to stay with the Warriors, so could potentially be pried away for the MLE. He has red flags the size of a mountain but could be an interesting swing on a one-year deal. 

-Dean Wade: He’s a big wing who can shoot and is a solid defender, but I’m not sure he’s worth $15 million a year. Could be an option if the Pistons don’t use all of their MLE on one guy. 

-Anfernee Simons: He’d be a scoring upgrade but he’s another small guard and can’t defend at all. Let the Bulls overpay him, as he’s not a guy you can likely count on in the playoffs. 

-John Collins: Has been connected to the Pistons forever. He’d be a possible fit as a big wing who can shoot but may end up getting more than this as an unrestricted free agent. 

-Tari Eason: The Rockets have some tough calls this summer, including restricted free agent Eason. He’s a jumbo wing who is an average 3-point shooter, but he’s a versatile defender who would fit right in. Not sure the MLE would be enough to scare the Rockets off, but he could be available. 

This can’t be the only move for the Pistons 

One thing all of these players have in common is that they aren’t going to lift the Pistons into true title contention on their own and would need to be the gravy of the offseason, not the meat. 

If the Pistons could land an impact player via trade and then add one of these guys, then it suddenly makes this list far more appealing, as these are all solid complementary players, but not guys who are going to move the needle on their own. 

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