The Pistons may have frustrated part of their fanbase by sitting out the summer’s biggest swings, but there’s a real case that Detroit avoided a pile of expensive mistakes.
A lot of the names that got tied to the Pistons carried the same warning label: too much money, too much risk, or not enough availability. That matters for a team with one of the cleanest cap sheets in the league, especially with Jalen Duren’s next deal still looming whenever that gets done.
Austin Reaves was one of the first names in the mix. Detroit was reportedly prepared to make a run at him, but the move never happened, and that looks like a win for the Pistons.
Reaves can score, but he’s not a two-way player, and he’s already on second-option money. Whether he actually is a second option remains unproven.
Passing on a deal worth $184 million is a pretty easy decision when Ausar Thompson’s future extension is also waiting in the wings.
De’Aaron Fox has been connected to Detroit in the past as well, and if the Pistons still wanted him, the Spurs would probably be thrilled to move on after his playoff showing. He’s another max player who doesn’t really look like a max guy, which is the kind of contract problem that only gets worse as the roster around him starts getting paid.
Zion Williamson was another name that kept popping up in trade-machine chatter, but that road has already been traveled once, and there’s no reason to go back. He’s still hurt constantly, and even when he’s available, he isn’t nearly as effective as the hype suggests. That’s not a bet Detroit needed to make.
Miles Bridges was floated mostly because of his Michigan ties, but that idea never made much sense. Beyond the off-court baggage, he’s not a difference-maker on the floor, and the Suns are about to pay him like one anyway.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is the one player on the list who at least makes you pause. There were whispers Detroit could get involved, but Utah stepped in with three first-round picks.
Even with extra draft capital to burn, that’s a massive price, especially for a player who misses time and is set to make more than $50 million in each of the next three seasons. He might have helped, but probably not enough to justify that kind of haul.
John Collins isn’t better, but he’s making a third of the money.
Brandon Ingram was another hopeful-fan favorite as a possible second creator. He’s a good player, but he still leaves you wanting more in too many of the areas that matter most. Detroit passing there looks sensible.
Anthony Davis briefly surfaced as a possible target too, but the Wizards were the ones who took that swing. They may have landed him cheaply, but now they’re talking about extending a player who has played only marginally more in the NBA than I have over the last two seasons.
So while the Pistons haven’t made the loudest summer noise, they also haven’t gotten trapped by the wrong kind of star chase. For now, that may be the smartest move of all.
In Other News...
Jalen Duren Just Put The Pistons In A Tough Contract Spot
LeBron James latest contract decision is a reminder of how much star players can shape a roster by taking less, and it lands at an awkward moment for Detroit as Jalen Durens extension situation comes into focus. James accepted a two-year, $8 million deal and again chose flexibility over a bigger payday, a familiar move for a player long associated with helping teams build around him rather than around his own maximum number.
Durens side of the ledger looks much trickier for the Pistons. After a disappointing playoff showing, he is reportedly pushing for a max extension, even as Detroit has every reason to be cautious about committing that kind of money right now. For a young center still trying to prove he can anchor winning basketball when the games get tighter, the gap between what he wants and what the team is willing to discuss could define the next stretch of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Daniss Jenkins Could Force A Tough Pistons Decision Next Season
Daniss Jenkins is heading into a contract year with the Pistons, and that alone gives next season a little extra weight. Detroit still has room to maneuver financially, but the front office is already staring at a stretch of decisions that will shape the roster beyond just one summer, with Jenkins, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson all looming as part of the bigger payroll picture.
For Jenkins, the appeal is obvious: if his game takes a real step forward, he could make himself more than just another young piece on the roster. The Pistons would love that kind of growth on the floor, but it would also mean a tougher call when it comes time to talk about his next deal, especially with the team trying to preserve flexibility for the contracts still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Reed Is Suddenly Central To A Huge Pistons Question
Paul Reed is suddenly in line for a much bigger job in Detroit after the Pistons reshuffled their frontcourt this summer, and it puts a spotlight on one of the quieter but more important roster questions heading into next season. Reed showed he could be efficient in limited playoff minutes last spring, and now the Pistons need that same energy to translate into a steadier backup center role, with his work on both ends carrying more weight than it did before.
The fit matters because Detroit wants to keep its edge in the paint while also taking a step forward in the postseason, and Reeds preparation suggests he already understands the stakes. He has also been active on social media revisiting the Pistons-Cavaliers playoff series, a sign that he is already thinking about what needs to change, even if the bigger answer to how he handles the expanded role is still to come. [Read more 🡒]