Pistons free-agent predictions: Who stays, who goes in Detroit?

With around $30 million and cap space and a season that just ended with the Detroit Pistons finishing dead last in the standings, it can be assumed that there will be some new faces in Detroit next season.

The Pistons, a rebuilding squad with an interesting young core, currently have 12 players under contract for next season, and that includes some with club options — Isaiah Livers, R.J. Hampton and Eugene Omoruyi. From last year’s team, Hamidou Diallo, Cory Joseph and Rodney McGruder will become unrestricted free agents this summer.

Unlike this time last year, it does feel like Detroit will make some significant changes around its margins. 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.

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.

Isaiah Livers

Contract status: Club option ($1.8 million)
Odds he returns: 100 percent

Detroit has until June 28 to exercise Livers’ option for next season, and my guess is the organization does it well before.

Livers, a second-round pick in 2021, has received high praise from Pistons general manager Troy Weaver since entering the NBA. 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.

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. 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. 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.

He’ll be on the roster next season.

R.J. Hampton

Contract status: Non-guaranteed for next season ($1.9 million)
Odds he returns: 20 percent

Hampton joined the Pistons in February after being waived by the Orlando Magic. 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.

The 22-year-old guard did have moments during his 21 games in the Motor City, and he does get after it defensively, but I just don’t see the Pistons having him on the roster to begin next season. Detroit will likely add a veteran guard this summer if it does bolster its backcourt depth, and it’s hard to envision a role that makes sense for Hampton once the Pistons get Cade Cunningham back from injury and go through all of their options this summer to improve the roster.

Maybe Detroit ends up keeping Hampton around on a two-way contract, but I don’t believe he gets one of the 15 roster spots to begin the season.

Eugene Omoruyi

Contract status: Club option ($1.9 million)
Odds he returns: 30 to 40 percent

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.

In 17 games for the Pistons, Omoruyi did nothing but play hard. It was noticeable almost every night. He can defend and get to the rim. His shooting needs work, though, and I’m not sure what his best position is.

Similarly to Hampton, I’d be surprised if Omoruyi made the main roster next season, although I could see him as the 15th man. There isn’t a rotation spot for him if this team has a good offseason.

I could see Omoruyi also being a two-way contract candidate.

Hamidou Diallo

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
Odds he returns: 30 percent

Diallo was playing the best basketball of his career before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in March.

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. It felt like the Pistons were regularly a better team whenever Diallo was on the floor.

With all that said, though, I think Diallo ends up signing with a team that has a bigger role for him. A healthy Detroit team probably doesn’t guarantee Diallo a ton of minutes. I’m of the belief that he’ll have no problem finding a team that can provide a more consistent role.

It’s possible the Pistons are interested in retaining Diallo, but at what cost? Detroit could get some of the intangibles Diallo provides in Omoruyi for much, much cheaper.

Cory Joseph

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
Odds he returns: 0 to 10 percent

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. He shot 38 percent from 3, which helped the Pistons not got blown out every single night down the stretch.

Similarly to Diallo, I see the 31-year-old Joseph going to a team that has a more defined role for him. He doesn’t play next season if the Pistons are healthy, and I also believe they’ll look to add a different, seasoned guard to the rotation this summer.

Joseph was well-respected in the locker room and was a steady presence, but with Detroit looking to take a step forward next season, it seems more likely that they upgrade the backup point guard position.

Rodney McGruder

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
Odds he returns: 40 to 60 percent

McGruder was the voice of reason, a true professional and a bucket-getter for the Pistons this past season. He didn’t play often, but when he did, it felt like every 3 he put up came down through the hoop.

Despite not being a rotation player if health is in the Pistons’ favor, McGruder is a culture-setting presence. He plays hard on both ends when given minutes. He’s beloved in the locker room. Every team needs a player like McGruder on the roster.

Assuming a different team doesn’t guarantee McGruder a rotation spot this summer, I believe Detroit welcomes him back with open arms to continue to be a mentor for this young group as well as an emergency plug-and-play option.

(Top photo of Isaiah Livers: James Gilbert / Getty Images)