Stuck in a disastrous season, the Pistons intended to move to strengthen themselves. They did it by getting Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari back. A transfer which does not change the face of the franchise but brings at least a touch of experience to this young group.
The Pistons nevertheless have ambitions, according to The Athletic. Because our colleagues explain that the leaders tried to recover Dejounte Murray and Zach LaVine, two very hot issues currently in the NBA.
For the Hawks playmaker, the discussions date back to recent weeks. Atlanta would have wanted Ausar Thompson and Jaden Ivey, as well as other elements, in return. Detroit refused because the leaders have four untouchable players for the moment: Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
As for Chicago's backfield, conversations have also been had. The Bulls reportedly accepted a package around Bojan Bogdanovic and one of the quartet to send Zach LaVine to Michigan. But, once again, the Pistons do not want to let go of one of the four members of their hard core. Therefore, if the Chicago franchise is less greedy, perhaps Detroit can find an agreement.
Millions this summer, but for what?
Why did the leaders try to get in on the action for these two All-Stars, when they will have $60 million to spend this summer to improve their team? For two reasons undoubtedly.
Already because “cap space” no longer has the same importance as in the past for signing stars during “free agency”. It is nevertheless interesting to absorb big salaries in transfers, as the Pistons did during the 2023 offseason with Joe Harris and Monte Morris.
Then because the Pistons do not have the power of attraction of Los Angeles for example, like The Athletic recently explained. They therefore risk having a lot of dollars but few suitors who will want to sign for a team which could end the 2023/24 season with less than 10 victories on the clock…
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Cade Cunningham | 36 | 34.5 | 44.9 | 33.5 | 87.0 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 22.8 |
| Bojan Bogdanovic | 22 | 33.1 | 46.5 | 41.1 | 74.0 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 19.5 |
| Jaden Ivey | 39 | 26.6 | 45.3 | 31.6 | 73.2 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 14.4 |
| Jalen Duren | 28 | 29.9 | 63.1 | 0.0 | 70.3 | 3.2 | 8.3 | 11.5 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 14.0 |
| Alex Burks | 36 | 20.3 | 39.2 | 40.0 | 90.0 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 12.6 |
| Isaiah Stewart II | 32 | 30.6 | 46.9 | 38.2 | 75.4 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 11.0 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 26 | 18.4 | 59.1 | 16.7 | 82.0 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 10.2 |
| Danilo Gallinari | 2 | 12.9 | 80.0 | 100.0 | 87.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 8.5 |
| Ausar Thompson | 43 | 23.8 | 46.4 | 15.5 | 63.8 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 8.3 |
| Kevin Knox | 25 | 18.8 | 48.1 | 36.1 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 8.0 |
| Marcus Sasser | 39 | 15.5 | 46.9 | 39.8 | 90.6 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 7.2 |
| Killian Hayes | 38 | 24.5 | 40.9 | 27.9 | 68.1 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 7.1 |
| James Wiseman | 29 | 14.6 | 67.5 | 0.0 | 61.8 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 6.0 |
| Mike Muscala | 3 | 14.9 | 55.6 | 62.5 | 50.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
| Stanley Umude | 15 | 10.3 | 45.5 | 51.9 | 91.3 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 5.0 |
| Isaiah Livers | 23 | 20.4 | 34.5 | 28.6 | 66.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 5.0 |
| Jared Rhoden | 5 | 5.9 | 55.6 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.6 |
| Joe Harris | 15 | 10.5 | 36.1 | 34.5 | 50.0 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 2.5 |
| Malcolm Cazalon | 1 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
