Slowly but surely, the to-do list for new Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations is getting smaller.
Since Trajan Langdon was hired three weeks ago, he has finalized his front office, which landed its last big decision-maker earlier this week with the hiring of Dennis Lindsey as senior vice president of basketball operations. Lindsey was a finalist for Langdon’s role but now joins Michael Blackstone, J.R. Holden and George David as Langdon’s trusted confidants. Langdon and Co. added two high-upside prospects during the 2024 NBA Draft by selecting the G League Ignite’s Ron Holland with the No. 5 pick and Bobi Klintman, a 6-foot-9 wing from Sweden, with the No. 37 pick (more on this below).
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Still left to do is hire a head coach, with names like Sean Sweeney, Micah Nori and J.B. Bickerstaff having already interviewed to replace Monty Williams. Before that, though, Langdon has to focus on free agency.
Beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, teams can start negotiating with free agents. Detroit is currently projected to have $63 million in cap space, the most in the NBA, after a second-round, salary-dump trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves to move up 16 spots and take on the $2.5 million contract of Wendell Moore Jr. Furthermore, the Pistons have the room exception to use, which is about $8 million annually and it won’t subtract from their cap space.
Here, we’re going to look at what all the Pistons could do with their financial flexibility, team needs, who they could reasonably go after and more.
Own free agents
Evan Fournier: $19 million team option (June 29 deadline)
Simone Fontecchio: restricted free agent
James Wiseman: restricted free agent
Troy Brown Jr.: $4 million team option (June 29 deadline)
Stanley Umude: $2.1 million team option (June 29 deadline, fully guaranteed January 10)
Chimezie Metu: $2.6 million team option (June 29 deadline, fully guaranteed January 10)
Malachi Flynn: restricted free agent
The only person on this list that is likely to even be a significant piece on next season’s roster is Fontecchio, who the Pistons traded for at last season’s trade deadline for the 32nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 28-year-old wing/forward only played in 16 games for Detroit due to a toe injury, but was impressive during that stretch, averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while hitting 42.6 percent of his 3s and playing more-than-passable defense. Fontecchio checks multiple boxes that Langdon covets in a player and what Detroit needs for next season.
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Due to the Pistons having Fontecchio’s restricted free-agent right and the organization being able to go over the cap to sign its own players, the Pistons are best off agreeing to a deal with the sharpshooting Italian sooner rather than later but not making it official until after the rest of their cap space is used up. The Athletic’s John Hollinger has Fontecchio getting “something in the neighborhood” of three years and $20 million to $25 million.
Aside from Fontecchio, I don’t see anyone else on the list coming back next season. It’s possible the Pistons pick up Fournier’s team option, but that would likely be only to execute some form of a trade. I wouldn’t be shocked — though, it feels unlikely — if Brown returned as an end-of-bench option, but doing so at his current $4 million price tag would be a bit of an overpay, in my opinion. Maybe they circle back and give him the vet minimum if he has no suitors when the dust settles.
Team needs
- Shooting
- Frontcourt rim protection (outside of Isaiah Stewart)
- High-IQ players
Detroit didn’t address short-term shooting with the selection of Holland, putting more pressure on the Pistons’ front office to fill that void either by signing players or making trades. At his introductory news conference last week, Langdon said the team would prioritize shooting and floor spacing around Cade Cunningham, who should be agreeing to a rookie max extension any day now, so there is no reason to believe that it won’t be addressed in one way or another.
Rim protection got a bit tricker to address via free agency, as Nic Claxton agreed to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. However, if the new regime isn’t sold on Jalen Duren as a rim protector or wants to get someone ahead of him who is more advanced, someone like Isaiah Hartenstein (more on him later) is still a possibility. Detroit could also add rim protection via trade.
Lastly, the Pistons turned the ball over, seemingly, every other possession last season and could use more experienced players with better feel and intangibles.
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Who to use the room exception on?
The Pistons have the room exception at their disposal, which will allow them to sign a player to a three-year, $25.2 million deal this summer without digging into their cap space.
My perfect candidate for this exception is Gary Harris, the veteran shooting guard who seamlessly fits in any lineup imaginable when healthy. Harris has shot 37 percent from 3 or better over the last three seasons, is a good defender and doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective. The former Michigan State product would help any team he’s on, but I think would really benefit a young Pistons team who needs a blend of both shooting and defense on the perimeter.
Again, the biggest worry with Harris is that he’s always injured. He’s played in 60-plus games in a season just once since 2018-19. That comes with concerns, but it’s also the biggest reason the Pistons likely could get him with the room exception, too. It’s a gamble worth making given Detroit’s needs and the potentially low price tag for a borderline starter when healthy.
Two other candidates for the room exception could be Luke Kennard if the Memphis Grizzlies decline his $14.8 million team option or the Miami Heat’s Haywood Highsmith, who is a 6-foot-7 versatile defensive wing who knocked down 39.6 percent of his 3s last season (2.9 attempts per game).
My top-10 free agent big board (only factoring in unrestricted free agents) for Pistons
*factoring in likelihood, price, team needs (Example: Klay Thompson isn’t coming to Detroit and the Pistons likely won’t give him a bag to do, so he’s not on this list)
1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — guard — projected annual salary: $24 to 27 million: Could an old friend make his way back to Detroit? On Thursday, The Athletic reported that the veteran guard will opt out of his $15.4 million player option and be courted by teams with “cap space.” Not “contending teams,” but, read it again, “teams with cap space.” The Pistons have cap space … a lot of it! Caldwell-Pope has played a big part in high-level winning everywhere he’s gone since leaving Detroit, the team that drafted him in 2013. He’s 31 years old but is one of the premier glue guys in the NBA. Caldwell-Pope has shot the 3-ball 38 percent or better over the last five seasons and is a very good defender. He’s low-maintenance on offense and is a prime cutter. Caldwell-Pope is everything the Pistons currently need. He’ll likely command a decent chunk of coin in free agency, hence why he opted out, but I could see a three-year, $80 million deal with a team option on the third year working out for both sides. That comes out to about $26.6 annually.
2. Naji Marshall — forward — projected annual salary: $10 to $14 million: It’s unlikely that the New Orleans Pelicans will be able to keep the 26-year-old wing who can defend multiple positions and turned himself into a 38 percent 3-point shooter this past season (albeit on low volume). Not to mention, Detroit’s newest head decision-maker and coveted shooting coach just came from New Orleans. Marshall, if the shooting turn is real, provides a legitimate 3-and-D wing for Detroit as he prepares to enter his prime. There are concerns about how Marshall would produce in a potentially bigger role because we haven’t seen it, but there is a lot to like about what he may provide if all breaks right for a roster that desperately needs a more-polished player at that positions.
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3. Gary Harris — guard — projected annual salary: $7-10 million: I already spoke on Harris, so I won’t spend too much time here. To me, he’s the perfect bang-for-your-buck candidate. He’s a low-end starter who fills both the shooting and defensive needs that Detroit has to address. The nagging injuries have always been a concern, but he’s worth the low-cost gamble in the event he’s able to string together one or two healthy seasons.
4. Isaiah Hartenstein — center — projected annual salary: $25 to $30 million: No one is probably happier that Claxton agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal than Hartenstein, who surely views himself in that same range, if not more. Hartenstein’s a low-maintenance offensive player who is good as a roll man, an underrated passer and is a more-than-solid defender at the center position. This is tricky because Detroit has a center in Duren, who is young and talented, but he has not really shown any signs of being close to an average rim protector quite yet. Do the Pistons bank on Duren’s development and not spend big at center? Do they spend big at center and allow Duren to move into a more diminished role as a he develops, then moving on from Isaiah Stewart, the only floor-spacing big on the roster who is also young and a good defender despite not having the upside of Duren? Or does Detroit spend big at center, keep Stewart as the backup five and try to get assets for Duren? It’s a tough question to answer, but one that the Pistons’ decision-makers already have or will in the coming days. I do like Hartenstein as a player, but part of me does believe that if Detroit does want to address its rim-protection woes from the center spot sooner rather than later, the Pistons might be better of trading for someone like Clint Capela or Mitchell Robinson. Both of those players have more team-friendly deals, than giving Hartenstein a big deal, hence why he is lower on this list.
5. Tobias Harris — forward — projected annual salary: $23 to $26 million: Forget what Harris did this last postseason (because Detroit needs to worry about the regular season first), but the 32-year-old forward who is always available to play 70-plus games was good for most of the regular season in Philadelphia and has been a legitimate plus-level starter for several years. I reported on the mutual interest between Harris and the Pistons back in December, and I do believe interest has maintained, though I’m not sure if it’s as strong as it once was since Langdon has taken over. Regardless, Harris provides good to great 3-point shooting, can create off the dribble for himself as a tertiary ballhandler and gives effort defensively. Did I mention he is always available to play? He checks too many boxes for Detroit. The key is to get him on a short deal. If the Pistons can get Harris to agree to something like a two-year, $50 million deal, I believe that’s a win for both sides.
6. Malik Beasley — guard — projected annual salary: $13 to $15 million: Beasley shot 41.3 percent from 3 last year on 6.9 attempts per game. Need I say more? He’s not the defender Gary Harris is and will dig into the cap, which is why I have him slightly below.
7. Gary Trent Jr. — guard — projected annual salary: $12 to 15 million: The 25-year-old Trent Jr. fits Detroit’s timeline better than Gary Harris and Beasley, and he’s naturally a better shooter than the former, so why didn’t I switch these two? Well, I like what Harris provides more defensively and his cutting ability. I also like that he could cost almost $5 million less, even though he’s four years older. Trent Jr. has been relatively healthy the last few seasons, so he has that working in his favor. Ultimately, I’d prefer to give Gary Harris a two-year deal worth, roughly, $16 million than Trent Jr. a two-year deal worth somewhere close to $25 million. Regardless, walking away from free agency with either Gary Harris, Trent Jr. or Beasley (if Caldwell-Pope isn’t obtainable) would improve Detroit immediately and make life easier on Cunningham.
8. De’Anthony Melton — guard — projected annual salary: $15 to 20 million: A combo guard who can shoot, pass, handle and defend? He’s not the biggest guard in the world but would be a more-than-serviceable running mate with Cunningham if push came to shove.
9. Talen Horton-Tucker — guard — projected annual salary: $9 to 11 million: Horton can’t shoot, but he’s still only 23 years old somehow and isn’t a bad shot creator. I’d like to see him with Fred Vinson.
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10. Jonas Valančiūnas — center — projected annual salary: $10 to 13 million: If Detroit wants more size, consistency and stability at the center spot sooner rather than later, and some floor spacing to go with all three, Valančiūnas isn’t an interesting low-cost option. He played in New Orleans, where Langdon came from, the last three seasons.
Crafting my perfect free agency for the Pistons
(Note: This scenario is based on the Pistons using all of their cap space strictly on free agents, which certainly won’t be the case come next week.)
Cap space: $63 million
Room exception: $8 million per year (up to three years)
Disclaimer: This is just one example of what I believe would be a good free agency for Detroit and not me reporting what the team will do.
Now that it all is laid out, here is what I’d do if I were running the Pistons…
First off, based on my salary projections (which are based off of Hollinger’s BORD$ system), I’d try to sign Caldwell-Pope to a three-year, $80 million contract, with a team option on the third year. That would leave me with, roughly, 36.4 million in cap space. After that, I’d try to get Hartenstein for a four-year, $100 million deal. That would bump me down to about $11.4 million left in space and 13 players on my roster. My next target would be Marshall, who I’d push to get on a three-year, $33 million deal. From there, I’d use the room exception to sign Gary Harris to a two-year, $16 million deal. After all of that is out of the way, I’d re-sign Fontecchio to a three-year, $30 million deal.
Once the dust settles, or is in the midst of being created, I’d explore trades for both Jaden Ivey and Duren to see if I can add future draft capital or another rotation player plus a pick or two. If not, I’d sign a few potential veteran-minimum players to close out the roster, with a point guard being the top priority.
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Both Ivey and Duren have talent and I’d be afraid to give them up. However, the Pistons have Ausar Thompson and now Holland and need to prioritize floor spacing around them and Cunningham.
My projected starting lineup (if Ivey and Duren are traded): Cunningham, Caldwell-Pope, Marshall, Fontecchio and Isaiah Hartenstein
My projected first five off the bench (if Ivey and Duren are traded): Marcus Sasser, Harris, Grimes, Thompson and Stewart
To me, this is a good blend of trying to improve now, still having a handful of promising young players to develop and putting those young players in position to succeed with spacing. The defense also greatly improves across the board. And to put a bow on it, I wouldn’t have to throw Holland into the fire immediately, allowing him to develop in the G League and behind the scenes with spot minutes here and there.
(Photo of Langdon: Chris Schwegler / NBAE via Getty Images)
