Detroit Pistons roster reset: Who can they target with their trade exception?

Just over a week into offseason free agency, Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has kept his word.

On two separate occasions, since the conclusion of the Pistons playoff push, Langdon has said his offseason approach would be to stay patient and not be super aggressive .

Advertisement Since teams could begin contract negotiations with all free agents on June 30, Detroits roster has been retooled without Langdon having to mortgage the future of any current Piston.

Detroit completed a sign-and-trade that sent Dennis Schroder and a 2029 least favorable second-round pick to the Sacramento Kings in return for a traded player exception for a little more than $14 million and a 2026 second-round pick.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

signed with the Denver Nuggets on a veterans minimum, a projected $3,634,153 next season.

Schroders trade exception can be used for a full year after the trade is finalized with the league office, likely giving the Pistons until early July of 2026 to utilize this exception, depending on when it was officially finalized.

Before Malik Beasley was named as a person of interest in a federal gambling investigation , the Pistons had been in talks with Beasley and his agent leading up to June 30.

Detroit was prepared to offer Beasley a three-year, $42 million contract that included a team option for the last year, according to previous reporting by The Athletic .

The Pistons began their free-agent acquisitions by agreeing with big man Paul Reed to a two-year, $11 million contract.

Detroit then signed guard Caris LeVert to a two-year, $29 million deal.

The team officially announced LeVerts signing Tuesday, but has yet to announce Reeds.

The Pistons most recent offseason move was completing another sign-and-trade, bringing Duncan Robinson to Detroit on a three-year, $48 million contract and sending Simone Fontecchio to the Miami Heat.

Pistons threads coming soon...

pic.twitter.com/rRtb3rFZbv Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 7, 2025 Detroit also officially signed its 2025 second-round pick, Chaz Lanier on Monday.

In theory, Jaden Ivey should assume Hardaways role as Cade Cunninghams backcourt mate.

LeVert is a veteran who is five inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than Schroder and offers the Pistons another option as a secondary ballhandler off the bench.

Robinson didnt finish second in the league in made 3s as Beasley did last season, but he has made at least 185 triples in five of his seven seasons in the association.

Advertisement Detroit has 14 players on its roster as of Tuesday morning, including two two-way players, now that LeVerts signing is finalized.

Assuming Reeds deal is finalized soon, the Pistons would then have 15 total players on their roster including two-way players.

So, what should Langdon and Detroits front office do with their remaining traded player exception (TPE)? Danny Leroux, The Athletics cap expert, noted the Pistons should have $14,104,00 to spend and get an extra $100,000 wiggle room on top of the TPE.

Lets take a look at some players, with either expiring contracts or with two years left on their deals, who Detroit can explore trading for without having to make any long-term commitments.

Although Washington has the highest annual average value on his contract of any player listed, he has the potential to be the best fit for the Pistons as someone who meshes with Detroits core age and timeline.

Washington is an undersized stretch forward who makes up for his lack of height by boasting the longest wingspan on this list.

Despite spending his first four-and-a-half seasons on a Charlotte Hornets team in a cycle of losing, Washington still has a defensive box plus-minus of zero.

Hes a versatile defender who can guard on the perimeter as well as hold his own in the paint with the bigger, more imposing bodies of big men in the NBA.

Being a career 35.8 percent shooter from long range on 4.9 attempts makes Washington a prime candidate to space the floor for the Pistons, which is a desired skillset on a team with Cunningham.

Given Washingtons defensive versatility, age, NBA Finals experience, shooting ability and grittiness, hed be a formidable candidate for Detroits traded player exception.

Jones is another player who, like Washington, would help anchor the defense off the bench and potentially late in games.

Jones hasnt yet proven to be the scoring threat Washington is, but Jones 36.6 percent shooting from long range is higher than Washingtons, though Jones takes two fewer per game.

Jones also has a career plus-1.4 defensive box plus-minus to show for his defensive capability.

Advertisement Langdon selected Jones with the 35th pick in 2021, so the familiarity between the two stems back to Jones collegiate career at Alabama.

During Jones 2023-24 campaign, his last full season, he averaged 11.0 points on 49.8 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from 3 and 86.7 percent from the free-throw line.

He nearly achieved the 50/40/90 shooting splits that separate good from great shooters, albeit on low volume, and he wasnt the focal point of the New Orleans Pelicans offensive game plan.

Jones grit is different than Washingtons in that hes quieter and more reserved than Washington, whose on-court persona is more extroverted.

Jones mindset is one Pistons fans and Detroit coach J.B.

Bickerstaff would also appreciate and use while molding Jones to fit Detroits style.

Olynyk spent time in Detroit during the 2021-22 season, although only for 40 games.

Before that stint and even after, Olynyk has shown the ability to be another stretch forward who has shot 37.1 percent from 3-point range on 3.1 attempts per contest.

His biggest asset since being in the association has been his willingness to take and make shots from behind the arc, which keeps defenders honest when guarding his teammates.

Olynyk is no stranger to creating for his teammates out of dribble-handoff actions, which have become a staple in the Pistons offense.

Olynyk would be a great candidate to run pick-and-pop action with Cunningham to pull opposing defenses further from the paint.

He has his limitations defensively, but most defensive lapses coming from Olynyk wont be for lack of effort or heart.

Despite those limitations, Olynyk has a career defensive box plus-minus of 0.8, with his rookie season being his only as a minus at minus-0.3.

The veteran is worth a look given his regular-season and playoff experience, expiring contract and offensive versatility.

Advertisement Clarke is another player on the list who could fill a valuable role for the Pistons as a backup power forward with postseason experience.

Clarke, unlike the aforementioned players, does not offer outside shooting.

Hes made 51 triples in his career with 43 of those coming during his first two seasons.

That said, Clarke has averaged 10.2 points on 60.6 percent from the field and 5.5 boards per game for his career.

Clarke brings a similar rugged, hard-nosed mindset that would fit well in Detroit.

Clarke has a knack for creating second possessions for his team based on his ability to consistently crash the offensive glass.

Considering Robinson, LeVert and Holland could assume the majority of the second-unit scoring duties, Clarke could be the player to master the intangibles that dont show up on the stat sheet.

Bitadze rounds out the list as a player who, like Clarke, wont offer outside shooting, but has shown flashes of playmaking ability.

At nearly 7 feet tall, Bitadze is a big body who would present the Pistons with another formidable big with a variety of skills.

Like Jalen Duren and Olynyk, Bitadze seems comfortable in dribble-handoff actions.

This would potentially help Bitadze transition to Detroits style of play quicker, as hes shown the vision to occasionally get teammates open looks on backdoor cuts.

Although Bitadze has never averaged more than seven points per game, hes also been limited to a career-best 20.4 minutes last season.

Bitadzes size doesnt make it the easiest for him to show the mobility necessary to be a winning defender, but hes a career plus-2.8 when it comes to defensive box plus-minus.

Bitadze could also be a force on the offensive glass given the opportunity, as he averaged 2.4 offensive rebounds last year.

The big man would be the cheapest salary of these options next season with possibly the most untapped potential considering his age, skillset and limited usage thus far.

(Photo of Cade Cunningham and P.J.

Washington: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images).

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