4 Pistons Leaving Detroit in the New Year
By Cem Yolbulan
After having the worst season in franchise history in 2023-24, the Detroit Pistons already won more games this season. Sitting at 15-18 and ninth place in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons are a good bet to be in the Play-In Tournament.
Even though the Pistons are a much-improved team under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, not everything is as rosy as they may seem. Jaden Ivey will be out indefinitely with a broken fibula in the midst of his breakout season. The team still needs significant roster upgrades around Cade Cunningham to be a real threat in the East.
They will have a few big decisions to make to get there. They will need to replace a few players and find long-term solutions. Let's take a look at some Pistons who are unlikely to be in Detroit past 2025.
1. Tim Hardaway Jr.
The 32-year-old shooting guard has helped this team with his veteran competence and shooting. He started 30 games this season and plays over 27 minutes per game, averaging 10.1 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. He is an important cog in the machine, providing valuable spacing to the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Ausar Thompson.
At the same time, he is making only 41.7% of his field goal attempts and 35.2% of his threes. For a player whose main contribution is on the shooting and scoring front, that is not good enough. He still leaves plenty to be desired defensively and in terms of playmaking.
Hardaway Jr. is a free agent at the end of the season. If he can be retained on a veteran's minimum deal, he is a good vet to have around. Otherwise, his average shooting can be easily replaced by a younger player with a higher upside.