The core of the Detroit Pistons is expected to look similar for the 2026-27 season.
But there will be changes to the roster and, likely, to the starting lineup.
Whether restricted, unrestricted or facing a club option, seven Pistons players do not have fully guaranteed contracts this offseason. That includes All-Star center Jalen Duren and veteran forward Tobias Harris, and key role players in point guard Daniss Jenkins and wing Javonte Green.
Some of these players give the Pistons easy choices to make, while others (Duren and Harris) present dilemmas that could reshape the Pistons’ future.
The 1-seed Pistons’ flaws were clear in Game 5 and Game 7 against the 4-seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, and president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon in his May 19 end-of-season press conference listed the areas needed to improve: More ball-handling, more playmaking, more shooting.
The Pistons are set to operate over the $165 million salary cap due to the large cap holds of their impending free agents. But they will be under the luxury tax ($201 million) and first apron ($209 million), granting them the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception for next season, plus no trade or buyout restrictions and an $8.7 million trade exception.
Here is the breakdown of the Pistons’ potential free agents this summer:
C Jalen Duren
Duren looked on his way toward nearing a max contract after making his first All-Star team and becoming the second scorer on a 60-win team. Though Langdon said the team wants to bring him back, a significant drop-off in the playoffs for Duren will lead to interesting negotiations.
Duren could make around $41 million next season if the Pistons sign him to a max deal, but NBA analysts think that’s very unlikely considering how poorly Duren played in the playoffs, with his scoring nearly halved from the regular season to 10.2 points per game. And with Duren a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match any salary another team offers Duren. Only the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls are projected cap space teams. (Should Duren sign an offer sheet, the Pistons would have 24 hours to make a decision – by July 7 at noon.)
Duren probably cost himself tens of millions of dollars over the course of his next contract with his playoff performance. But it could be a blessing in disguise for the Pistons, who should be able to keep Duren while maintaining better financial flexibility in the coming years.
F Tobias Harris
Harris, who turns 34 in July, found himself in the opposite situation as Duren during the regular season. He was steady and is a valued veteran voice. With Duren playing away from a max deal, the Pistons will able to keep Harris around if both parties can agree on a number.
The Pistons can re-sign Harris using his Early Bird rights.
The only teams who can use something other than the $15 million mid-level exception to sign Harris are the three cap space teams, meaning the Pistons shouldn’t have much competition to bring Harris back on a relatively affordable, short-term deal.
G/F Kevin Huerter
The Pistons badly need shooters, but it’s not clear if Huerter will be one of those guys for that next season.
Detroit traded for Huerter in the February deadline deal that sent former No. 5 overall pick Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls. Huerter did not have much of an impact for the Pistons down the stretch, averaging 8.6 points per game over 25 games while shooting just 29.4% from the 3-point line.
Huerter has been trending downward since a breakout season with the Sacramento Kings in 2022-23. And while he will not command the money he did while on his rookie extension ($16.25 million annual average), it might make sense for the Pistons to find better shooting elsewhere.
PG Daniss Jenkins
The Pistons converted Jenkins’ two-way contract to a standard contract in February, using part of their bi-annual exception to get the deal done. Jenkins will become a free agent this season unless the Pistons exercise his $4 million option.
That seems like a no-brainer move for the Pistons, but they could also decline it, making him restricted, and then sign him to a longer deal.
The undrafted Jenkins provided a scoring spark off the bench, averaging 9.3 points and 3.9 assists per game in just over 20 minutes. He even started the final three games of the Cavs series.
G/F Javonte Green
Green, a journeyman wing, turned into a regular rotation player, appearing in all 82 regular season games while shooting a career-best 38.1% on 3s this season.
That might expand Green’s market this offseason after he signed for the veteran minimum in August, especially with his ability to fit onto any team as a veteran role player. The Pistons might not make re-signing Green a priority, especially if Ron Holland takes a big step in Year 3 or if they can get similar production from Chaz Lanier or the No. 21 overall pick – should they keep it and pick a wing.
The rest
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Breaking down Pistons free agents, from Jalen Duren to Tobias Harris
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
