Pre-Draft Outlook
Good thing this category isn’t “Pre-Lottery Outlook.” A couple weeks ago, Detroit felt that suffering through the worst season of all 30 NBA teams would earn them something. If not the top pick (Victor Wembenyama) then the next player or two in line. Wrong. The Pistons slid to fifth, a nice spot by most teams’ standards but hardly what they had in mind. So much so that seeing them trade down or out of the first round would not be a surprise.
The Way To Go
Assuming the Pistons keep the No. 5 pick or even something a little later, a young team is going to get younger. Players who are showing up most frequently in that vicinity in early mock drafts include Villanova’s Cam Whitmore, Houston’s Jarace Walker and NBA G-Leaguer Amen Thompson. Detroit has a logjam of bigs and plenty of guards (assuming Cade Cunningham stays healthy this season) but didn’t really replace Saddiq Bey’s shooting-wing skillset after dealing him to Atlanta as a part of the James Wiseman trade.
— Steve Aschburner
Here’s a quick look at who the Detroit Pistons have under contract, who is a free agent this summer and who they added in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Under Contract
G: Cade Cunningham
G: Killian Hayes
G: R.J. Hampton
G: Jaden Ivey
F: Marvin Bagley III
F: Bojan Bogadnovic
F/C: Isaiah Stewart
C: Jalen Duren
C: James Wiseman
Free Agents
G: Alec Burks (team option)
G: Hamidou Diallo (unrestricted)
G: Cory Joseph (unrestricted)
G: Rodney McGruder (unrestricted)
G: Jared Rhoden (two-way)
F: Buddy Boeheim (two-way)
F: Isaiah Livers (team option)
F: Eugene Omoruyi (team option)
> 2023 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2022: Jaden Ivey (5), Jalen Duren (13)*, Gabriele Procida (36)*, Ismael Kamagate (46)**
* = acquired via trade
** = traded in draft-night deal
*** = traded in offseason deal