The offseason has arrived for the Detroit Pistons.
Their longest NBA playoff run since 2008 came to an end Sunday, May 17, with a gut-wrenching 125-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Little Caesars Arena.
Daniss Jenkins had 17 points, but Cade Cunningham mustered just 13 and Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duran combined for 17 points.
Now, the Pistons’ front office has big decisions to make regarding its young talent, the 2026 NBA Draft and NBA free agency, with questions to answer on the Duren contract negotiations, Harris’ free agency, a potential trade for a second scorer and more.
Here are five questions surrounding the Pistons entering the 2026 offseason, where the pressure will begin to increase for third-year president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon.
1. What will a Jalen Duren contract extension look like?
Duren’s ill-timed poor performance in the playoffs came ahead of his pending restricted free agency. After not reaching an extension agreement with the Pistons last summer, the team now has the right to match any outside offers for Duren.
The Pistons can offer him a maximum of up to five years and roughly $239 million. That represents a starting salary of around $41.4 million, or 25% of next year’s salary cap, with 8% annual raises. Other teams are limited to a maximum four-year contract up to $177.4 million.
If Duren makes one of the three All-NBA teams (15 players), his maximum offer with the Pistons would increase to five years and roughly $287 million.
Regardless, it’s difficult to see them offering a max deal. After an All-Star regular season, Duren fell flat in the playoffs averaging 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. But since an NBA team with cap space can offer a maximum of up to $44.3 million per year – hello Los Angeles Lakers? – a deal with the Pistons likely still would cross $40 million annually.
His options this summer are the following – sign a new deal with the Pistons, sign with an outside team and allow the Pistons to match, or take the qualifying offer to enter unrestricted free agency in 2027. The last option is a rarely-used nuclear option if Duren is unsatisfied with his offers. His qualifying offer is worth around $9.6 million and would give him an opportunity to increase his value and options next season with more control in determining his future.
2. Extend Ausar Thompson contract or wait until 2027?
It’ll be interesting to see where talks end up landing between the Pistons and Thompson, who finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and is likely to make an All-Defense team. He further solidified his case as one of the league’s most versatile and effective defenders, averaging 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, two steals and nearly a full block per game.
A point of comparison is Dyson Daniels, who signed a four-year, $100 million extension with the Atlanta Hawks last October. Similar to Thompson, Daniels is a gifted defensive player with offensive limitations who nonetheless has been integral to his team’s success. Thompson arguably was the Pistons’ second-best player in the postseason, averaging 8.2 points, two steals and 1.8 blocks in 14 games.
[ Ausar Thompson a menace in best way who reminds of Draymond Green, Rodman ]
3. Will Tobias Harris return in free agency?
Harris will be an unrestricted free agent after signing a two-year, $52 million contract in free agency. The soon-to-be 34-year-old’s next deal is certain to be for less money on average, but it remains to be seen what he’s willing to accept and how high a salary the Pistons potentially offer.
Harris has been a key part of the Pistons’ turnaround, starting 136 games in the regular season and solidifying the power forward position. He averaged 13.3 points in 63 games during the regular season with 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.7 minutes per game, his lowest minutes since his second season in 2012-13.
The veteran forward stepped up in the playoffs, scoring at least 20 points in eight consecutive games starting with Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. He was the Pistons’ second-leading scorer after Cunningham in the postseason, with eight straight games of at least 20 points before petering out in Games 5-7 against the Cavs.
4. Will Trajan Langdon go star-hunting?
A primary takeaway from the Pistons’ playoff run: Cunningham needs help. The Pistons’ offense during the regular season was propped up by their high rate of forcing turnovers and capitalizing on transition opportunities. In the postseason, such opportunities were tougher to generate late in games, and the Cavaliers slowed down their offense by throwing multiple defenders at Cunningham.
Harris was an adequate second option through most of their postseason run, but they will need to be able to go bucket-for-bucket with the likes of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, or Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns with the New York Knicks, to have a shot at the Eastern Conference finals next season.
They likely will be connected to big names around the league, such as Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen − though Utah just traded for Jaren Jackson Jr. to pair with Markkanen − and Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard, who will be entering the final year of his deal and will make $50.3 million in 2026-27 at age 35. The Pistons have all of their first-round picks, including the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and a trove of second-round picks down the road to include in deals.
5. Pistons options in 2026 NBA Draft?
Thanks to their three-team trade sending Jaden Ivey to Chicago for Kevin Huerter in February, the Pistons have moved up from the No. 28 pick to No. 21 in the draft on June 23, thanks to a pick swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Given the roster will soon become more expensive with potential extensions for Duren and Thompson looming, it’s a prime opportunity for Langdon to find a contributor on a cost-controlled, four-year contract.
The Pistons also could seek to move up in the draft, given they have tradeable players and future picks to dangle. A long-term need is at power forward, with Harris entering his age-34 season and unrestricted free agency looming after two seasons as a starter in Detroit.
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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: Pistons star hunting, Jalen Duren are biggest questions for 2026 offseason
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
