Five things Detroit Pistons must do to ace busy 2024 offseason

Another year, another pivotal Detroit Pistons offseason.

The team has a lot of boxes to check over the next few months, with the first being hiring a new head of basketball operations after finishing with a franchise-low 14 wins. What does the organization need to do to ace the summer after a failure of a season?

Here are five things:

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Nail the head of basketball operations hire

This goes without saying, right?

It’s imperative that Tom Gores hits on this hire. In his 13 years as owner, the Pistons have produced a single winning season — 44-38 in 2015-16 — and are 0-8 across two playoff appearances. The team just had its worst five-year stretch, with the past two seasons’ 14 and 17-win finishes being the worst and third-worst in franchise history. The team has long struggled, but it has never been this dire.

This will be the Pistons' third front office change, and the first person hired into a president role, since Stan Van Gundy stepped down from the position after the 2017-18 season. Quite simply, the Pistons need a coherent plan. Troy Weaver succeeded at cleaning up the team’s cap situation while stocking the team with young players, but failed to make the necessary swings in the trade market and free agency to drastically increase the team’s floor, resulting in the squad bottoming out this past season.

With a top-five pick and $60 million in cap space, Detroit’s next leader will be able to immediately reshape the roster. There should be a greater sense of urgency following a patient four-year rebuild that fizzled out before it could take off.

Maximize the 2024 pick, even if it means trading it

Usually an annual cause for excitement and debate, this year’s draft class has been met with more of a sigh. There’s no Victor Wembanyama, Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren or any other prospect with clear generational upside. The Pistons’ next decision-maker has an important question to consider — does the organization really need another 19-year-old?

Building through the draft was a needed pivot by Weaver’s front office after the previous regime overspent to construct a team that ultimately couldn’t win a playoff game. It hasn’t worked, though. Not yet. There are centers, such as French big man Alex Sarr or UConn’s Donovan Clingan, who would immediately upgrade Detroit’s paint defense, and outside shooters, such as France's Zaccharie Risacher and Kentucky's Reed Sheppard, who would complement Cade Cunningham. Whether it's the first pick, the fifth pick, or somewhere in between, there’s upside to keeping it and taking the best player.

In the interest of fielding a competitive team sooner rather than later, though, it’s worth exploring the trade market and flipping the pick for someone who will upgrade the floor today, not tomorrow. Beyond Cunningham (who is extension-eligible this summer — we’ll discuss him in a bit), the Pistons will also soon have big financial decisions to make on Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey.

This core hasn’t won nearly enough to justify footing the bill to keep it intact. It seems more likely that the Pistons will prioritize getting older this season, not younger. If the team wishes to get significantly better, it’ll have to part with some assets, including the pick, to move forward.

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Add plus defenders ... everywhere

The Pistons finished 25th in defensive rating last season, their fourth time in five years finishing in the bottom seven (they finished 19th in 2020-21, Weaver’s first year as general manager). They have deficiencies up and down the roster — Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson were the only two players who had consistent defensive effort and execution every night.

As good as Duren has been as a rebounder and finisher, his development on the other side of the floor hasn’t come as quickly. He’s still only 20 years old, younger than all but a handful of likely lottery picks this summer. Regardless, Detroit needs an immediate difference-maker on that end. Brooklyn Nets restricted free agent Nic Claxton, who has emerged as one of the game’s best rim protectors, is one option. The Pistons have the cash to make an offer that would make Brooklyn blink.

Detroit also needs to beef up its perimeter. Restricted free agent Simone Fontecchio, expected to be a priority this offseason, will help. So could Quentin Grimes, who only played six games after arriving at the trade deadline but has previously been a difference-maker on that end. A couple more additions in free agency or via trade would push the team closer to average.

Don’t hesitate to spend money

Detroit’s frugal approach to rebuilding has backfired, with last summer’s modest haul (Monte Morris and Joe Harris) failing to contribute much of note. They can’t afford to be that conservative this time around.

The Houston Rockets received some flack last summer for investing big money into a free agent class headlined by Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, but it worked. They finished 41-41 overall, a 19-game improvement, and would’ve made the playoffs had they been in the Eastern Conference.

This year’s class isn’t inspiring, but even a free agent such as Tobias Harris, heavily rumored to be interested in a return to Detroit, would address big needs. Like the Rockets, the Pistons may be best off throwing big money at a proven difference-maker and offsetting it by making it a two or three-year commitment. VanVleet signed for three years and $128.5 million, an eye-popping number made more palatable by the third season being a team option.

Max Cade Cunningham

Detroit’s biggest offseason investment will likely be for a player already on the roster. Cunningham, having just completed his third season, is eligible for his rookie-scale max extension — worth five years at roughly $225 million. Yes, it’s a lot of money. No, it shouldn’t scare the Pistons away from negotiating with their franchise player.

Cunningham was one of the lone positives this past season, and certainly the biggest bright spot after averaging 22.7 points and 7.3 assists on 44.9/35.5/86.9% shooting splits. He improved as the year progressed, returning to form after missing most of his sophomore campaign with a shin injury, and looked like the jumbo, versatile playmaker the Pistons were confident they drafted first overall in 2021.

Every successful rebuild has a starting point, and the modern CBA incentivizes young players to sign with the franchise that selected them. The Pistons haven’t had any semblance of success since Cunningham arrived, but he would be a focal point on most NBA rosters. They need to secure his future.

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Five things Pistons must do to ace busy 2024 offseason