The Detroit Pistons will enter the offseason in a familiar position.
They'll have plenty of cap space, plenty of needs to fill and more than half of their roster spots available.
Last offseason, Detroit walked away with the big prize of Joe Harris, who was terrible and has since been cut.
Troy Weaver can't afford another offseason like the last one, and that's if he is still the GM making the decisions.
It will take more than free agency to fill at least eight roster spots, and Weaver (or whoever) is going to have a tall task, especially with potential free-agent targets already flying off the board.
So as of right now, here are the best remaining free agents for the Detroit Pistons at each position.
The best remaining NBA free agents for the Detroit Pistons
Free-Agent Point Guards
The Pistons are building their team (sort of) around guards Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, who can both play point guard. Marcus Sasser can also kind of/sort of play that role off the bench, at least in short stretches, so what the Pistons really need is a steady backup.
Here are two guys who fit that description:
-Monte Morris
-Reggie Jackson
The pickings are slim at point guard, so bringing back Monte Morris or Reggie Jackson might be the Pistons' best option. This is their position of least concern, but either would provide a steady backup who can come in, run the show for short stretches and set up their shooters. They can both knock down 3-point shots and have great assist-to-turnover ratios.
Free-Agent Shooting Guards
There's more talent at shooting guard in free agency, but again, this isn't a position of high need for the Detroit Pistons.
But here are three players who could draw their interest:
-Buddy Hield
-Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
-Grayson Allen
The Pistons reportedly had some interest in trading for Hield at the deadline and his shooting would be a welcome addition to their spacing, though his defense isn't going to do them any favors.
KCP is not coming back to Detroit, but I'd love him to, as he's still a tough defender who can knock down 3-point shots and has two championship rings on his fingers. He has a player option to stay in Denver and I expect he will.
Many fans don't like Grayson Allen, but he's currently leading the NBA in 3-point percentage, knocking down an outstanding 48 percent from long range. He's not an elite defender, but he's no sieve and he's shown he can be a key part of a contending team.
Free-Agent Small Forwards
The Pistons undoubtedly need two-way wings and power forwards this offseason, as they only have Ausar Thompson (who can't yet shoot) and Quentin Grimes under contract for next season.
They will likely bring back Simone Fontecchio as well, but he alone is not enough of an upgrade to move the needle.
Here are some guys who could help:
-OG Anunoby
-Patrick Williams
-Miles Bridges
-Torrey Craig
-Naji Marshall
Anunoby is almost certain to re-sign with the Knicks, so you can rule him out.
Patrick Williams would be a classic Troy Weaver move, as he liked him in the draft and loves his busts. Williams is a restricted free agent so the Bulls can match any offer, and let's hope that Weaver has learned his lesson about overpaying for guys who have "upside" but haven't achieved anything.
Aside from the obvious, I don't like Miles Bridges as a basketball player, as he's not a good defender and is an average 3-point shooter. I hope they go in a different direction.
I always have to add my man Torrey Craig, a 3-and-D glue guy who would be nice for the bench.
I also like Naji Marshall from the Pelicans, as he's a tough player and decent defender who can guard a couple of spots and offers some versatility on offense as a playmaker.
Free-Agent Power Forwards
If the Pistons are going to make a big splash in free agency, it will likely be at the power forward position, which is arguably their biggest need and where the best free agents are found.
-Tobias Harris
-Pascal Siakam
-Kelly Olynyk
-Obi Toppin/Jalen Smith
Harris and Siakam will be the big names attached to the Pistons, though Siakam is more likely to stay put in Indiana if they offer him a big deal.
It's debatable whether Harris is worth the kind of money the Pistons would have to invest to get him, but he's a steady veteran who doesn't miss games and is a consistent bucket.
I wouldn't mind a reunion with Kelly Olynyk, who can play both big spots and stretch the floor. He's a better passer than he gets credit for and not the worst defender.
I also like Obi Toppin and Jalen Smith from the Pacers as a young veterans with efficient offensive games. Toppin is very athletic and both guys can knock down a perimter shot.
Free-Agent Centers
Jalen Duren is the starting center of the future for the Detroit Pistons, but he is not yet a great rim protector or defender in general. They could use a backup big who can stretch the floor and one who can block shots.
-Nicolas Claxton
-Isaiah Hartenstein
-Mason Plumlee
-Andre Drummond
-Mike Muscala
It's hard to imagine the Pistons going after Claxton unless they were to trade Duren, but he is the type of rim protector they need.
Hartenstein might not be a bad second option, as he is blocking over a shot per game in 25 minutes for the Knicks and is also a very good rebounder. He'd be a high-level backup who might not break the bank.
I always like the Plum Dog and am still not sure why Weaver paid to trade him away, but that's another story. He's a solid backup who can rebound, though he doesn't block many shots.
Andre Drummond is still one of the best rebounders in the game and has improved on defense. It would be nice to see him back and to go out on a high note with the team where it all started.
Mike Muscala has given the Pistons a nice boost as a stretch five, and on a minimum deal, I wouldn't mind having him back.
The Detroit Pistons have options, but they are dwindling quickly, so they will have to rely on the trade market as well as free agency to fill out over half of their roster in the offseason.