3/28/25 7:00PM Cavs @ Pistons

[Tigeraholic1]

This was a sick move.

 

[Deleterious]

1 hour ago, NYLion said:

The Pistons are actually in one of the most favorable cap situations in the league. More than half the league will  be well over the cap and I believe only a few teams will have more cap space than the Pistons in the offseason. This second apron has really put an emphasis on drafting and developing and thinning out depth on rosters so depending on how teams move money around this offseason, I can't see much player movement occurring outside of trades.

They have almost no cap space this year.  The Nets are pretty much the only team that has cap space.  Every other team will have the MLE.  A few teams like Detroit can get a few million extra without ripping apart their roster.  But even $20 million in cap space isn't much.  That barely gets you a starter.

Next year things open up a bit more with Harris coming off the books.  That is a good thing since that free agent class is supposed to be fairly good.  But right now we know the highest the cap can be in the summer of 2026 is $170 million.   The Pistons will be at $134 million which means they will have $36 million in cap space, which is not bad at all, but they only have 6 players signed.  So they have $36 million to sign what?  7 or 8 guys.  Oh, that does not include Beasley.  So if his deal this summer is for 2+ years, put them at $148 million with 7 guys signed, meaning they have $22 million in cap space to sign another 7ish guys.

They are not an apron team and that is great.  That gives them the full complement of available moves.  But they do not have much money to bring in a lot of talent via free agency.  Not a terrible spot to be in, since most big names rarely change teams via free agency anyway. 

[Deleterious]

The no pick this year isn't a huge deal, either.  Right now, Minnesota will be picking 19th and that could easily move to 21-22 if the Pistons win a few more and a few teams lose a couple.

There are usually a few teams in the 20's that don't want to make a pick because of cap concerns.  So if there is someone there that the Pistons want, they can probably get back into the lower third of the first without it costing much.

[buddha]

so how do they end up with booker?  or durant?

[Deleterious]

32 minutes ago, buddha said:

so how do they end up with booker?  or durant?

They don't and that is a good thing.

[buddha]

4 hours ago, Deleterious said:

They don't and that is a good thing.

zion?

how do they get that "second superstar"?

booker, durant, zion, markannen?

do okc part with any of their top players once they become too expensive?  chet on the block?

ivey, duren, and multiple first rounders have to be available for the right guy.  unless you think ivey continues to develop.  

[Hongbit]

Ausar has a chance to become a fringe superstar.  Think Donavan Mitchell or Jaylen Brown.  He’s got a long way to go but the tools are there and still need to develop.  

[casimir]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

zion?

Oh gosh, please no.

[NYLion]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

zion?

how do they get that "second superstar"?

booker, durant, zion, markannen?

do okc part with any of their top players once they become too expensive?  chet on the block?

ivey, duren, and multiple first rounders have to be available for the right guy.  unless you think ivey continues to develop.  

The Pistons have great chemistry with their young guys and are on a big upward trajectory so why are they breaking up the core?

Ivey I can see possibly as trade bait because he hasn't been a part of this resurgence and he might be their most valuable trade piece but I can't see Duren being traded, he's been a big part of this culture being built and has obvious chemistry with Cade. I think Cade, Ausar, Duren and Holland are their building blocks. You just hope that Ausar or more likely Holland develop a solid 3 point shot.

Edited Saturday at 11:56 PM by NYLion

[Deleterious]

2 hours ago, buddha said:

zion?

how do they get that "second superstar"?

booker, durant, zion, markannen?

do okc part with any of their top players once they become too expensive?  chet on the block?

ivey, duren, and multiple first rounders have to be available for the right guy.  unless you think ivey continues to develop.  

OKC might sell some players in a few years, but it won't be SGA, Williams, or Chet. 

No clue what start to get.  Anyone I want is probably not available. 

I have no interest in Duren if I'm another team.  Especially with Ivey.  I'm obviously rebuilding, so I don't want to add two players that need extensions in the summer of 2026.  I also refuse to pay for a center that cant shoot or defend. 

But if Detroit approaches me about my star, I would ask for Ivey, Ausar, and 3 FRP's.  Mitchell went for Markannen/Sexton + 5 FRP's.  3 of them were outright traded, 2 were the right to swap. 

[buddha]

20 hours ago, Hongbit said:

Ausar has a chance to become a fringe superstar.  Think Donavan Mitchell or Jaylen Brown.  He’s got a long way to go but the tools are there and still need to develop.  

mitchell and brown can both shoot.