Pistons 2024 Offseason Primer

The Detroit Elite has provided a list of players from this summer’s free agency, plus players with active contracts with teams that could be trade targets for the Pistons. This list should provide an outlook to fans, displaying that there is a lot of hope to get better and much better at that. The number floating around right now for a maximum outlook on cap space is 72.9 million (this number will shrink with a Fontecchio extension). With this amount of space and some of the players from this list, the Pistons have no excuse but to get much better.

When viewing some of the players on the trade target lists, remember, the Pistons are in a position where they can just take on a contract if the other team is just looking to move on and make room for something else or avoid the luxury tax.

Detroit’s Trade Assets:

The Pistons have a number of smaller contract guys that they can move to relieve cap stress on a team that is looking to dump a larger contract. Some moveable names include Isaiah Stewart, Troy Brown, Marcus Sasser, Quentin Grimes, Stanley Umude and possibly Chimezie Metu if Detroit exercises his team option. Detroit could also look to add some of its young core (Ivey, Thompson or Duren) into these possible trades as well if they are looking for a big swing. Not to mention, a top 5 pick this summer that could be bait and casted out to see what bites. The 2028, 2029, 2030 1st round picks are all available to ship somewhere as well, but due to the Stepien Rule, Detroit cannot trade back to back 1st round picks. Therefore, the 2028 and 2030 picks could be packaged but we’d probably want to hold onto the 2029 1st. A new method to avoid the Stepian Rule is to enact pick swaps instead (see Bradley Beal’s Washington-Phoenix trade).

The Conclusion:

Whoever is in control of the decision making in Detroit this summer has the power to make major positive changes and rebuild an entire roster around Cade Cunningham.