The NBA’s free agency negotiation period officially starts at 6 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, June 30. The Detroit Pistons will look to retain some of their own players, including restricted free agent Jalen Duren. They also will look to the open market in search of players who can provide more shooting and ball-handling.
If they remain an over-the-cap team, they will have access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, enabling them to offer a free agent a contract starting at around $15 million. It also can be split across multiple players, and they won’t need cap space. If they make a trade to add a big name, they would still have access to the full exception if they stay under the luxury tax.
Here are five unrestricted free agents they may target:
Quentin Grimes, G, Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 averages: 13.4 points, 3.3 assists, 45% overall, 33.4% from 3 (5.1 attempts).
The combo guard played just six games for the Pistons in 2023-24 after the franchise acquired him at the February deadline, due to a knee injury. He has since gotten healthier and better, averaging 14 points on 45.9% overall shooting and 36.1% from 3 through 150 games with the Dallas Mavericks and 76ers. Grimes also has been a capable defender throughout his career and would fit a Pistons team looking to get better offensively without losing any juice on the other end.
Collin Sexton, G, Chicago Bulls
2025-26 averages: 15.4 points, 3.3 assists, 48.5% overall, 40.1% from 3 (4.1 attempts).
Sexton is a smaller guard, listed at 6 feet 2, and largely has come off the bench through his last few seasons, making him one of the league’s more underrated offensive threats. He’s ranked in at least the 87th percentile among guards in points per shot attempt, according to Cleaning The Glass, a straightforward measure of his ability to impact the scoreboard. A lights-out shooter with a career 38.9% mark from 3 through eight seasons, Sexton fills immediate needs for the Pistons.
Rui Hachimura, F, Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26 averages: 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 51.4% overall, 44.3% from 3 (3.9 attempts).
Hachimura is the definition of a specialist. He’s an underwhelming defender and rebounder for his size (6-8). He’s not a playmaker with the ball, unless he’s looking to score. But he’s among the most elite shooters in the league, with a 42.6% clip from over his last three seasons and an overall percentage of 52.1%. The Pistons are in need of power forward depth. If they can live with his lack of defense, his scoring would have a chance to transform their offense.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, F/C, Toronto Raptors
2025-26 averages: 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 52.3% overall, 38.9% from 3 (3.7 attempts).
The big man has become of the league’s better “stretch-5’s” since he was drafted in the second round in 2021, and he is coming off his best season. He ranked in the 96th and 76th percentiles, respectively, over the last two seasons in percentage of shots taken behind the arc among bigs. After reportedly declining his $2.8 million player option on Monday, he’s positioning himself for a more lucrative long-term deal.
John Collins, F/C, Los Angeles Clippers
2025-26 averages: 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 55.2% overall, 40.6% from 3 (3.2 attempts).
The 6-foot-9 power forward/center hybrid is a jack of all trades and has improved as a shooter, hitting around 40% of his attempts through the last two seasons. He’s also a powerful downhill finisher and would give the Pistons’ frontcourt more size.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 5 free agents Detroit Pistons could pursue with midlevel exception
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
