The NBA is basically in a holding pattern right now, waiting on LeBron James to decide where he’s playing next. And while that decision hangs over everything, the Detroit Pistons are quietly poking around at one of the more interesting names still available: DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan reached a buyout with the Sacramento Kings, making him a free agent. And according to league sources cited by Marc Stein, the Pistons have been internally debating whether to make a run at the six-time All-Star. It’s not a done deal. It’s not even clear they’ll actually jump in. But they’re thinking about it, which is more than most teams can say right now.
The timing is weird for Detroit. They already have a roster crunch. They’ve got contract extension talks looming with Jalen Duren, their All-NBA caliber big man, and defensive ace Ausar Thompson. That’s not nothing. Those are real dollars they have to figure out before Opening Night. And yet, the Pistons are sitting roughly $46 million under the luxury tax threshold. That gives them room to re-sign Duren and still go after someone else.
Detroit finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, and they’ve already made some moves. They traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis for draft capital. They watched Tobias Harris sign with San Antonio. They brought in Isaiah Joe, who shot 42.3% from three for the Thunder last season, and veteran forward John Collins to fill Stewart’s spot. Joe is an elite shooter. That trade with Oklahoma City was quietly one of the smarter ones this offseason.
But here’s the thing: the Pistons still need more offense around Cade Cunningham. DeRozan gives them that. He’s 36, sure, but he’s still a bucket. He can create his own shot, draw fouls, and take pressure off Cade in the halfcourt. It’s the kind of move that makes immediate sense for a team that wants to win now.
The real holdup is LeBron. A bunch of teams that miss out on him are expected to pivot to DeRozan. Detroit could be one of them. Stein reported that a clearer picture of DeRozan’s suitors will come into focus once James picks his next team. Toronto is already confirmed as a bidder, but Detroit is weighing the option.
So the Pistons are stuck in a weird spot. They could stand pat and let Duren and Thompson develop. Or they could push their chips in for a proven veteran who can help them right now. It’s not a bad problem to have. But it’s one they have to solve soon.
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