Hanifan's Offseason Outlook: Evaluating the Detroit Pistons' offseason

For our second annual offseason outlook series, Hot Hot Hoops senior writer Matt Hanifan will provide his take on the offseasons of all 30 teams for the next 30 days! We will proceed in alphabetical order, starting with the Eastern Conference. Today, we will be hitting the Detroit Pistons’ offseason.

Past Previews:

Sept. 1: Atlanta Hawks
Sept. 2: Boston Ce l tics
Sept. 3: Brooklyn Nets
Sept. 4: Charlotte Hornets
Sept. 5: Chicago Bulls
Sept. 6: Cleveland Cavaliers

Evaluating the Detroit Pistons’ 2025 offseason:

Additions: Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson, Javonte Green, Colby Jones,

Subtractions: Malik Beasley (free agent), Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroder, Simone Fontecchio, Lindy Waters III

Re-signed: Paul Reed

Draft: Chaz Lanier (No. 37)

Hanifan’s outlook: Last season, the Detroit Pistons had the sixth greatest single season turnaround in NBA History. In 2023-24, they finished an NBA-worst 14-68; last year, they went 44-38.

Pretty remarkable, huh?

Last summer, then-first-year general manager Trajan Langdon did a remarkable job adding not only veterans, but legitimate floor spacers around star point guard Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duran and Ausar Thompson. The most important one was Malik Beasley, who finished second in made 3-pointers (307) — one behind Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, who surpassed him in the final game of the season.

However, Detroit’s offseason was thrown for a loop days before free agency.

Beasley became subject to a federal gambling probe in late June that completely killed his free agency market. Detroit was reportedly in talks with adding him back to a three-year, $42 million deal. But they quickly changed gears, adding guard Caris LeVert. But that obviously wasn’t enough.

The Pistons ultimately snagged sharpshooter Duncan Robinson away from the Miami Heat. Say what you want, Robinson’s one of the best shooters in the sport, having made 39.7 percent of his 7.2 3-point attempts over his first seven seasons.

Even though his case is now cleared, the Pistons don’t have the space to bring back Beasley unless he’s willing to take another payout. I still think they need more shooting. I liked them drafting Chaz Lanier plus signing Javonte Green, who embodies the Pistons’ toughness.

This team should still be very good next season. Hopefully, Jaden Ivey and Thompson stay healthy (and take leaps). But I’m expecting this team to add more shooting along the lines if they struggle to supplement what they lost with Beasley.