You have to go way down on the NBA free agent list before you get to a player who might actually be available for the Detroit Pistons.
Most of the top guys aren’t going anywhere, as they have either player or team options that make it far more likely they stay with their current teams. LeBron, Kyrie, James Harden, Fred VanVleet... these are not realistic free agent options, especially for the Pistons.
Insider Jake Fischer thinks you’ll have to get to Santi Aldama before you get to a free agent that might actually be available, and if that’s the case, you can probably rule him out for the Pistons.
Detroit Pistons free agency: Can’t get in a Santi Aldama bidding war
The Pistons have been connected to Aldama in recent speculation, mostly because they have cap space and the need for a stretch four.
Aldama fits the timeline age-wise and has improved every year he’s been in the league, so he’s a moderate risk on the right deal, but if he’s the only available free agent at the top, then that cost may be too high.
Memphis wants to keep him, so will likely match any deal up to a point, and that point is probably around the MLE, which is all most teams have to offer.
The Pistons would have to make an offer that scared Memphis away, somewhere in the $17-20 million per season range, in which case he’s suddenly not as attractive.
I like Aldama and do think he ticks boxes for the Pistons as a 6-foot-11 floor spreader, but he’s ultimately a role player and you can only give out so many of those types of contracts to role players.
The Pistons will already likely have two bench players in Malik Beasley and Isaiah Stewart in the $15 million range, and they have big financial obligations looming with Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
A sign-and-trade for Aldama isn’t out of the question, especially if Memphis would take Simone Fontecchio and second-round draft capital back in return. That would at least offset some of Aldama’s salary next season and leave the Pistons in position to sign other guys.
Aldama is not the type of player worth getting into a bidding war to acquire, so unless the Pistons can find a sign-and-trade they can stomach, I wouldn’t expect the restricted free agent to come to Detroit.