The Detroit Pistons entered last offseason with a bunch of cap space and plenty of needs.
The free-agent group wasn't laden with stars, so Troy Weaver decided to punt $30 million in cap space into the expiring contracts of Joe Harris and Monte Morris. Morris has yet to play a single minute for Detroit (and may not) and Joe Harris played seven games (averaging 3 points per) before joining Morris on the injury list.
For the third straight offseason, Weaver used his cap space for salary dumps instead of trying to sign players who could help his team compete and it shows. While the other rebuilds are improving or even thriving, the Pistons have miraculously gotten worse.
Defenders of this strategy say that there were no impact free agents the Pistons could have signed, that this is another "development" year, or is it an "evaluation" year, I can't remember anymore. They claim that spending big money in free agency wouldn't have been prudent given where the team is in their rebuild.
These folks (who ALWAYS defend Troy Weaver) are partially right. There were free agents the Pistons rightfully avoided, but there were also several who have been home runs for their current teams and almost certainly would have helped Detroit. You can argue whether the financial obligation was worth it, but you can't argue with the results, which is that the Pistons have the worst record in the league and are on the verge of setting the all-time franchise record for consecutive losses in a season.
Let's start with the flops the Pistons rightfully stayed away from and then get to some of the guys they missed on in retrospect.
Veteran free-agent flops
Seth Curry and Joe Ingles
The Pistons needed veteran shooters but passed on pursuing Seth Curry, who has been one of the best 3-point shooters in the league over his career. He signed a modest 2-year/$8 million deal with Dallas, the second of which is not guaranteed.
So far, he's averaging just three points per game on a career-low 26 percent from long range. He's been relegated to mop-up duty for Dallas, though he'd probably be in the starting lineup for Detroit the way things are going.
Same for Ingles, who has been better than Curry and is actually playing bench minutes for the Magic. He's a good veteran leader, but $11 million per season is a lot for a guy who scores four points per game and isn't knocking down 3's at his career rate.
The Pistons did well to avoid these two, though they've been better than the two veterans Detroit did use their cap space on, so I suppose I'd rather have Ingles for one year than Joe Harris. Troy Weaver will probably trade for Ingles next offseason and collect another second-round pick.
Free-Agent Flop
Cameron Johnson
Cameron Johnson was a guy the Pistons at least kicked the tires on this offseason, though they would have had to shell out huge money to pry him away from Brooklyn. He ended up signing a 4- year/$94.5 million contract and I was happy when Detroit didn't try to go over that.
Johnson is a good player, but he's had a long history of injuries in his basketball career, and the last thing Detroit needs is another player who can't stay on the floor. He's missed seven games already this season, and his numbers have been pedestrian.
Johnson is averaging 15 per game on 37 percent from long range, so "flop" might be a bit harsh, but when you factor in his salary and injuries, he's a guy the Pistons were smart to stay away from.
If they wanted a guy who could score 15 per game on that kind of shooting efficiency, they could have just kept Saddiq Bey (why didn't they by the way?), who isn't quite as good as Johnson, but isn't far off when you factor in injuries and salary.
There are still fans complaining that the Pistons didn't sign Johnson, but he wouldn't have changed this much, as he's missed nearly half the games and would have just joined the Pistons' ranks of the wounded.
Now let's get to some of the guys they should have signed, from role players to more expensive free agents.
Free agent misses
Dennis Schroder
The Pistons were looking for a veteran point guard to help ease the burden for their young backcourt, but it turns out they got the wrong one. I think the trade for Monte Morris was a good one and you can't do much about injuries, but you also can't ignore the reality.
Schroder signed a 2-year/$26 million deal with the Raptors and is having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 16.6 points and 6.6 assists per game. A guy like him who can get to the rim, take care of the ball, get his own shot or set up teammates, would have been a nice addition next to Cade Cunningham.
As the Pistons saw firsthand, Schroder can still get buckets, still break down a defense, and is a smart veteran who doesn't turn the ball over much. In retrospect, he would have been perfect, and cost them marginally more than Monte Morris, who has yet to play.
Max Strus
Strus was technically a sign-and-trade after he couldn't come to an agreement with Miami. He was traded to Cleveland who promptly signed him to a 4-year/$62 million deal.
Some thought this was an overpay, a typical Heat player getting too much after making it to the Finals.
It turns out that Strus has been a huge bargain and one of the most improved players in the NBA this season. Strus is averaging 14 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4 assists per game while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range on 7.6 attempts per game.
Unlike anyone on the Pistons, Strus is a guy you have to guard on the perimeter or he will burn you, as the Pistons again found out firsthand in a recent loss to Cleveland. A floor-spreader in his prime with big-time playoff experience? Could the Pistons use one of those? Of course, but at least they have their mythical financial flexibility!
So the Pistons whiffed on two scorers, but they also could have went the 3-and-D route.
Free Agent Misses
Dillon Brooks
I'm not going to lie and say I wanted the Detroit Pistons to sign Dillon Brooks, as I thought his antics in Memphis, coupled with his salary, were not things we wanted to inflict on the young core.
The Rockets disagreed and inked Brooks to a 4-year/$80 million deal, which turned out to be a bargain for a guy who was fresh off making the All-Defensive team.
You may not like some of Brooks' idiosyncrasies, but it's hard to argue with the results. He's not only defending the other team's best player every night, but scoring 13 per game and doing it efficiently on 45 percent from long range. The Rockets are 8-7 and look to be taking the next step of their progression as a team while the Pistons just keep getting worse.
So I was wrong about Brooks, and so were the Pistons, who claimed they wanted to build around defense, and then passed on an All-Defensive player to trade for the corpse of Joe Harris, who couldn't guard me.
Grant Williams
The Pistons could have had Williams for even cheaper, as he ended up signing for 4 years/$53 million. I've brought his name up a lot only to be told "he's too much like Isaiah Stewart!" as if you should be making personnel decisions based on your 4th or 5th best player.
Williams is not an All-Star, but he's a competent defender who has been on good teams and knows how to make winning plays. He's averaging just under 10 points per game and shooting 43 percent from long range on over five attempts per game.
So a 3-and-D forward who is healthy and shoots the lights out couldnt have helped the Pistons? Ok.
Biggest Agent Miss for the Detroit Pistons
Jerami Grant
Grant was the guy I wanted the Pistons to pursue, as he had all of the qualities they were looking for (a power forward who can defend, shoot and be a secondary scoring option) and is a guy who actually wanted to be in Detroit at one point.
He has a good relationship with Weaver, so it made sense for the Pistons to aim for a reunion. Admittedly, I was a little less keen when I saw his 5-year/$160 million contract, and at the time, I thought the Pistons might have dodged a bullet.
Now, I am not so sure. Grant is still what the Pistons need, as he is scoring 23.4 per game, a career high, while shooting over 42 percent from 3-point range. He's been lights out of late and would almost certainly have the Pistons in a much different position now and moving forward. And when you factor in the rising salary cap, his contract isn't that bad and will more or less be minimum wage for a quality NBA starter.
There aren't any free-agent options in 2024 that are better than Grant, so the Pistons probably should have just opened the vault and brought him back.
At some point, the Pistons have to actually try to win games, which means taking some risks on players in trades or free agency. None of these players were "perfect" but all could have helped the Pistons take the steps we are seeing other rebuilds take.