#DETROIT FREE PRESS SPORTS PISTONS UPGRADE#

He shot 38 percent from 3, which helped the Pistons not got blown out every single night down the stretch. The veteran point guard wasn’t scheduled to be a rotation regular of Dwane Casey until Cunningham’s season ended in November. Joseph ended up playing in 62 games this season and had his ups and downs. (David Richard / USA TODAY Sports) Cory Joseph Hamidou Diallo averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 56 games this season. I’m of the belief that he’ll have no problem finding a team that can provide a more consistent role. A healthy Detroit team probably doesn’t guarantee Diallo a ton of minutes. With all that said, though, I think Diallo ends up signing with a team that has a bigger role for him. It felt like the Pistons were regularly a better team whenever Diallo was on the floor. The 24-year-old Diallo had his most efficient scoring season by a mile this season, and I thought he was consistently better on the defensive end. Hamidou Dialloĭiallo was playing the best basketball of his career before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in March. I could see Omoruyi also being a two-way contract candidate. There isn’t a rotation spot for him if this team has a good offseason. Similarly to Hampton, I’d be surprised if Omoruyi made the main roster next season, although I could see him as the 15th man. His shooting needs work, though, and I’m not sure what his best position is. In 17 games for the Pistons, Omoruyi did nothing but play hard. Omoruyi impressed Detroit’s decision-makers on his first 10-day contract, and that led to him getting another 10-day before the team signed him to a standard deal. With Tommy Sheppard fired, what’s next for the Washington Wizards? Eugene OmoruyiĬontract status: Club option ($1.9 million) At that point in the season, Detroit was realistically out of the playoff hunt and looking to take a flier or two on former blue-chip prospects who didn’t pan out at their first few stops. Hampton joined the Pistons in February after being waived by the Orlando Magic. HamptonĬontract status: Non-guaranteed for next season ($1.9 million) When the dust settles, and assuming health is in his favor from here on out, I believe Livers comfortably becomes a 38-percent-or-better shooter from distance. After shooting 42 percent from 3 in only 19 games as a rookie, Livers’ 3-ball dipped to 36 percent this season over 52 games. Injuries have hit Livers through his first two seasons and haven’t allowed him to truly find a rhythm at this level, but when he does play, it’s clear that he has great defensive chops and instincts, both individually and as a team defender. Weaver told The Athletic, unprompted, in January that he sees Livers as part of the team’s core, and he doubled down on that during his end-of-season press conference when he said Livers is currently the lone wing on the roster who carries the 3-and-D upside that the Pistons need more of. Livers, a second-round pick in 2021, has received high praise from Pistons general manager Troy Weaver since entering the NBA. Here, I’m going to look at all of Detroit’s free agents (and potential free agents) and predict whether they’ll come back next season.Ĭontract status: Club option ($1.8 million)ĭetroit has until June 28 to exercise Livers’ option for next season, and my guess is the organization does it well before.

#DETROIT FREE PRESS SPORTS PISTONS UPGRADE#

With hopes of turning a corner as an organization during the 2023-24 season, it would benefit the Pistons to upgrade their depth with more proven talent. Unlike this time last year, it does feel like Detroit will make some significant changes around its margins.

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