What the Detroit Pistons can do this offseason
- ›Can add an outside free agent up to $15.0M via the Non-Tax MLE.
- ›Hard-capped at the first apron — triggered by the John Collins sign-and-trade, so it can't cross that line the rest of the season.
- ›Below the first apron: full expanded salary-matching is available.
- ›Draft capital: 9 extra incoming picks, owes 2.
CapTax1A2A
Non-Tax MLE$15.0MBi-Annual$5.5MMinimum$3.9M
Projected record
50-32
Projected net rating
+4.3
Current baseline
50 wins · +4.3 net
Full standings · models the position-aware rotation, a real-age aging curve, perimeter defense, and a bounded penalty for a structural hole; a talent-on-hand projection, not a full-season forecast (no coaching or playoff translation).
Team profile · on-court identity + fit
Offense
B-
53
Defense
B+
66
Spacing
B
60
Playmaking
D
30
Rim protection
B+
66
Perimeter D
B+
66
Rebounding
C
44
Defensive core +2.2Spacing +1.8Defense +1.6Connectors +0.8Balanced +0.5Thin playmaking -1.2
Grades are minutes-weighted from the projected rotation; the chips are the fit read — how much each strength or gap is worth in net rating, on top of raw talent. Dimensions come from each player’s real 2025-26 box profile. Injuries are real reported facts, factored into projected minutes.
Projected rotation · minutes by position, best players first
PGPoint
76Cade CunninghamST25y20m
58Isaiah Joe27y8m
49Daniss Jenkins25y20m
SGShooting
58Isaiah JoeST27y13m
76Cade Cunningham25y14m
52Duncan Robinson32y8m
54Javonte Green33y13m
SFSmall F
52Duncan RobinsonST32y20m
64Ausar Thompson24y21m
54Javonte Green33y4m
50Kevin Huerter28y4m
PFPower F
51John CollinsST29y27m
50Kevin Huerter28y15m
64Ausar Thompson24y5m
60Paul Reed27y1m
CCenter
44Ron HollandST21y20m
60Paul Reed27y13m
41Ugonna Onyenso20y3m
Out of rotation · no projected minutes in the 240-a-night budget
46Gary Harris45Taurean Prince45Chaz Lanier44Ebuka Okorie
Projected minutes from the position-aware rotation model: five on-court spots share a fixed 240-minute-a-night budget, best players first, with versatile players (their secondary spot shown on hover) sliding to a second position. ST = projected starter. Not a coach’s actual rotation.
Roster (15)
76PGCade Cunningham$50.1M
51PFJohn CollinsNO-TRADE$16.2M
52SGDuncan Robinson$16.0M
58SGIsaiah Joe$11.3M
64SFAusar Thompson$11.1M
44PFRon Holland$9.1M
50SFKevin HuerterNO-TRADE$8.6M
60CPaul Reed$5.6M
44PGEbuka OkorieNO-TRADE$4.5M
49PGDaniss Jenkins$4.0M
54SGJavonte GreenNO-TRADE$3.9M
46SGGary Harris$3.8M
45SFTaurean Prince$3.8M
45SFChaz Lanier$2.2M
41CUgonna OnyensoNO-TRADE$1.4M
Draft capital
Own first-rounders
’27 kept’28 kept’29 kept’30 kept’31 kept’32 kept
Incoming picks & swap rights
’27 2nd · from BKN’27 2nd · from MIL’28 2nd · from CHA’28 2nd · conditional’28 2nd · from NYK’29 2nd · swap most’30 2nd · from MIN’31 2nd · from DAL’31 2nd · from MIN
Full ledger — 9 in, 2 out
in 2027 — second round draft pick from Brooklyn or Dallas (less favorable)
in 2027 — second round draft pick from Milwaukee
in 2028 — second round draft pick from Charlotte or L.A. Clippers (less favorable)
in 2028 — second round draft pick from Miami
in 2028 — second round draft pick from New York
in 2029 — second round draft picks from Milwaukee and / or New York (two most favorable of these and Detroit, Detroit outgoing to Chicago)
in 2030 — second round draft pick from Minnesota
in 2031 — second round draft pick from Dallas
in 2031 — second round draft pick from Minnesota or Golden State (less favorable)
out 2028 — second round draft pick to Philadelphia
out 2028 — second round draft pick to Utah (Detroit, Charlotte, L.A. Clippers, Miami or New York outgoing)