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Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Offseason Roadmap: My Guide to the Detroit Pistons’ Offseason.

Originally posted on thePeachBasket | By Tyrone Smith | Last updated 5/7/24

The offseason in Detroit is excitingly frustrating. Being in the sports media space for the past seven years has been a rollercoaster of emotions when discussing the Pistons. As a native Detroiter, my heart aches with disappointment, yet I always hold out hope and optimism for my hometown team, no matter how bad they may be. Coming into this season, I was filled with a sense of anticipation for this Pistons team. The hiring of Monty Williams was a beacon of hope despite the financial implications, and the drafting of Ausar Thompson solidified the small forward position. The 2023-24 season kicks off, and the Pistons start 2-1, sparking a glimmer of hope.

As a basketball fan, you understand that the NBA season is long, and just because a team starts well doesn’t necessarily mean they will carry that same momentum. This is precisely what happened to the Pistons: they lost 28 straight games and 68 games overall. As the season’s end drew closer, it made me think of the offseason. Who are some players I would love to see in Red, White, and Blue? Who’s a player I want to see hit the offseason with aggression? As I began to wonder more, it prompted me to create my offseason Detroit Pistons wish list.

1). Offseason Decision: Don’t Pick #1 (If they get it).

This wish may seem weird to people reading it, but let me explain. The goal for a lousy team is to have enough ping-pong balls in your favor to change the course of your franchise with the #1 overall pick. In recent history, the Pistons have been a lousy team over the years but always find themselves on the short end of the stick. This year’s draft is being seen as a draft that isn’t so great. The consensus #1 overall pick in most of these early mock drafts is Alex Sarr as the #1 overall pick.

The Pistons already have Jalen Duren, who I feel is the center of the Piston’s future. I hope the Pistons drop where they can either A. draft a guard or B. trade the pick for future assets. Could you draft Sarr and create a twin-towers front court with Duren? Maybe. I don’t think that will help the Pistons arise from the NBA basement of bad teams. I believe this next move on my offseason list can do just that.

2). Offseason Acquisition: Bring Miles Bridges home

Miles Bridges and the Detroit Pistons have been linked since the 21-22 season. During the 21-22 season, Bridges played 80 games, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists on 49/33/80% shooting. Bridges had become a 100-million-dollar player, and then he got in trouble. After sitting out the entire 22-23 season and the first ten games of the 23-24 season, Bridges returned and played in 69 games, averaging 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 46/34/82% shooting.

Bridges is from Flint, Michigan, and attended Michigan State University. In his two seasons in East Lansing, Bridges averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Bridges can come in and immediately add more of a punch to the Pistons’ power forward position. While I do like Isiah Stewart and his continued development over the past three seasons, Stewart doesn’t have that offensive bag that Miles Bridges has. The potential pick-and-roll offense with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey can be pretty lethal, and his athleticism will surely rock Little Caesars Arena.

3). Offseason Acquisition: Solidifying the backup Center spot.

If the Pistons can acquire Miles Bridges in free agency, they have the potential to be solid with all of their pieces.

Point Guard: Cade Cunningham/Marcus Sasser
Shooting Guard: Jaden Ivey/Quentin Grimes
Small Forward: Ausar Thompson/Simone Fontecchio
Power Forward: Miles Bridges?/Isaiah Stewart
Center: Jalen Duren/?

Over the years, Troy Weaver has brought in big men who were drafted high, hoping they can play to their potential. Guys like Marvin Bagley III had been solid (if not overpriced), but James Wiseman had his confidence taken away as Monty Williams underutilized him. With Wiseman gone this offseason, the Pistons will be looking for someone to backup Jalen Duren. One player who should get some heavy consideration is Chimezie Metu.

Metu averaged 10.5 points for the Pistons in 14 games (7 starts). He had a knack for being around the ball defensively with his 1.7 steals average, and his shooting was top-notch. Metu shot 50% from the field, 30% from the three, and 95% from the line. He was a 76% shooter from in-close (0-3 feet), 59% from 3-10 feet, and 40% from 10-16 feet. Some may see Metu as a 3rd big. If Andre Drummond, Xavier Tillman, or Mason Plumlee are available, they should be considered.

4). Offseason Development: 10,000 Jump-shots if possible Ausar.

Of all the players on the roster, my favorite is Ausar Thompson. Any player who takes defense seriously is okay in my book. Thompson had a hot start to the season but started to fade a bit as the season progressed. Missing the final 19 games of the regular season due to a blood clot in the lungs wasn’t the way he wanted his rookie season to end, I’m sure. As he regains his peak physical condition, Thompson should work on one thing this summer.

Thompson shot 18% from the three-point line and 59% from the free-throw line. Thompson’s shooting would have to improve dramatically if he were the starting small forward of the Pistons. His elite defense will always give him the minutes, but his lack of a shot will cause him to sit in those critical minutes of a close game. No matter what you do, Ausar, Please talk about all the jump shots you can take.

5). Be angry about how the season went!

Guys on next season’s roster that was on this season’s roster should take the offseason personally. The organization is the butt of all jokes right now, and with the emergence of the Lions, Red Wings, and Tigers, the Pistons are an easy target in the city. You have to sit down, look at yourself in the mirror, and question if you did enough to change the outcome. No player on that team should say they did enough. Picking and choosing when to play hard isn’t a recipe for success.

In Conclusion.

The Pistons have a history of letting me down with their play on the court. The letdown is consistently ballooned because of the offseason they have, where it gives me hope. I honestly don’t know how to approach this offseason with the Pistons. They have a lot of money to play around with and some roster questions.

1). Does Cade sign the rookie Max?
2). What will be the price to bring Fontecchio back?
3). What rookie will join the mix?
4). Who will be traded?

All these teams have questions they must answer as the offseason goes along, but we’re talking about Detroit Pistons basketball. Troy Weaver is on the hot seat and has to do something significant to keep him from getting fired. Despite the hate for the man, I still have faith in him (even if it’s just a little).