Pistons rumors: 5 free-agent options if Detroit spreads cap space around

The Detroit Pistons are in a holding pattern while they search for a new president to take over the team. 

Armed with the 5th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and upwards of $60 million in cap space, the Pistons should be able to significantly boost their roster through the draft, free agency and/or trades. 

It’s difficult to predict the direction the new president will take, but the Pistons may not have the assets to land a star in a trade, so may have to rely on free agency. They could shoot for some of the top names or spread the money around to 3-4 players who aren’t stars but could fill valuable roles and put real NBA players around Cade Cunningham. 

In a recent breakdown of the Pistons offseason, HoopsRumors threw out some names if the Pistons choose to spread their cap space in free agency. 

Possible Detroit Pistons free agent targets 

I wouldn’t be against this strategy, especially if the Pistons can get useful veteran players on short-term deals with higher annual salaries. Here are five guys named by HoopsRumors: 

Gary Trent Jr. 

At the right price, I love Gary Trent Jr and have written about him as a possibility who could help both Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. He can shoot the 3-ball, is great on the catch-and-shoot and is a decent defender. 

Royce O’Neale 

Journeyman 3-and-D guy who played useful minutes for the Suns. A tough player and career 38 percent 3-point shooter who would bring some defense and knows his role. 

Caleb Martin 

Another low-level signing, but a guy who can give solid backup minutes and knock down 3-point shots. 

Isaac Okoro 

Okoro has continued to improve as a shooter and was already a versatile defender. He hit 39 percent of his 3-point shots this season, is young, can play all over and has some Bruce Brown vibes as a Swiss army knife who can help in a lot of ways. 

Isaiah Hartenstein 

The Knicks will do what they can to keep Hartenstein, so the Pistons would likely have to ramp up a big offer to get him, as he’s been important to New York’s playoff success and looks like a great long-term fit. The question is whether he would be for the Pistons, especially if they had to pay upwards of $20 million a year to get him. 

He gives them improved rim protection right away, another good rebounder who can act as a connector on offense with screens and dribble handoff action.  

If I had to choose, I’d love Trent Jr, Okoro and Hartenstein, but they may not have the money for all three. And it’s debatable if the Pistons should be overpaying for what are essentially good role players when they need more star power around Cade Cunningham. 

The right role players around Cade Cunningham might be enough to push the Pistons into competitiveness, similar to Houston this season. 

It's certainly an approach they could take and they'd keep all of their young players, possibly pushing them into more suitable roles in some cases