The Detroit Pistons feel incomplete, but they are running out of avenues to improve. That’s not to say something can’t get done or that Trajan Langdon hasn’t worked hard trying to swing a deal that takes his team to the next level. Still, as we sit here a day before the beginning of free agency, the Pistons have swapped one of the league’s fiercest interior defenders in Isaiah Stewart for one of the league’s more dangerous 3-point threats in Isaiah Joe.
The team’s No. 1 priority this offseason was
to add shooting and spacing to a lineup that found both in short supply through two series of the playoffs. But what if that is all there is?
The Pistons have reportedly been working hard on an extension for Jalen Duren and are interested in retaining veteran Tobias Harris. If both of those come to pass, that would mean a potential return of last year’s entire starting lineup, give or take, swapping Duncan Robinson for Joe if that moves you.
Is that going to take Detroit beyond the first-round struggle and second-round exit they experienced last season? Will they be able to run with the defending champion New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, or healthier versions of the Celtics and Pacers? Of a Giannis-led Miami Heat or an upstart Charlotte Hornets? And that is just the East.
Detroit still has avenues to improve. They could operate easily as an under-the-cap team if they saw a big free agent worth chasing. They could operate on an over-the-cap team if they were able to find a trade that was worth their while.
They’ve already reportedly been putting out feelers for “big game.” There were credible reports about interest in Austin Reaves (given a max by the Lakers), Kawhi Leonard (rebuffed by Leonard), Coby White (re-signed by Charlotte), and Tyler Herro (so far, he is pegged to land in Milwaukee).
The team’s biggest need is a power forward, or perhaps a big switchable forward who could play either spot. Detroit could easily slot Ausar Thompson into a power forward role, but they love to use Thompson as a point-of-attack and help defender on the perimeter, which would force any other starting forward to be big enough to hold up down low.
Who has the girth and the talent to potentially replace or displace Tobias Harris in the starting lineup? The crop of free agents isn’t super inspiring. Rui Hachimura is available. He is a 42% 3-point shooter the past three seasons, and made a career-high from deep last season with the Lakers. John Collins is another reliable enough perimeter threat who can play up and down the lineup depending on how funky you want your defense to be. Dean Wade is the boring man’s free agent signing that you’d probably never regret.
If you’re still thinking about the trade route, of names not already mentioned would be led by Trey Murphy III, Michael Porter Jr., Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, PJ Washington, and Nikola Jovic.
This has always felt like the last offseason they could make a huge move without blowing up their core. Cade is already on a max, Duren is about to get a huge payday, and this season or next, Ausar Thompson’s will likely be even bigger than Duren’s.
The time is now, the war chest feels full enough. Langdon seems prudent, but he also seems to know he’s been building to this moment. We will see if he is able to take advantage.
