Free agents, unhappy stars and tax teams: Is there a mystery star for the Pistons?

Possible second apron and luxury tax teams

-Phoenix Suns
-Boston Celtics
-New Orleans Pelicans
-Minnesota Timberwolves

I'd rank the Suns and Celtics as huge longshots here, as both have rosters that can compete for titles for the next few seasons at least.

But if one of them got knocked out early, are they going to want to spend huge money (as well as other penalties) to clear the second tax apron?

Would Boston ever trade Jaylen Brown (probably not) and do the Pistons have enough to attain him? (almost certainly not).

Same for the Suns and Devin Booker. It's hard to see them trading their franchise player even if they bomb out in the first round, and even if they did, the Pistons may not have enough assets to even get in the conversation.

The Pelicans and Timberwolves might be the Pistons' best chance to land a star, as these are not teams that are accustomed to paying the luxury tax and both have payrolls that are about to get very expensive.

With super max deals for Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson looming, one of them almost certainly has to go unless the Pels would rather trade Trey Murphy III, in which case, the Pistons should be camping outside their arena.

The Timberwolves may have to jettison Karl-Anthony Towns to keep their payroll down, which will be even more likely if they lose early in the playoffs with him or make a deep run without him.

This is a long way of saying that the Pistons put a lot of faith in areas that are sketchy at best, as there aren't many good free agents, rebuilding teams or cap casualties to take advantage of.