The Detroit Pistons are about to embark on an intriguing offseason after winning 44 games and getting into the NBA playoffs. Coincidentally, the last time Detroit made the playoffs, they won 41 games in the 2018-19 season.
Even though this season’s playoff run ended abruptly in six games against the New York Knicks in the first round, there’s growing excitement surrounding the franchise. For the last several years, Detroit has been in rebuild mode. Now it's about building around the young core of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ron Holland, and Ausar Thompson.
The first step towards accomplishing that goal is NBA free agency, where the Pistons are linked to one potential target. Earlier this week, Sam Amico of Hoops Wire reported that Detroit is one team that could be interested in Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome.
Jerome is set to become an unrestricted free agent and will have a lot of interest from multiple teams after a career year in Cleveland. One of those teams that Detroit might have to contend with is from the Western Conference.
According to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Denver Nuggets are also interested in Jerome, but he adds that the Nuggets will probably be a first apron team.
It’s not surprising that Jerome has garnered a lot of interest from across the Association several weeks before free agency begins.
The 27-year-old guard is coming off the best year of his career under Kenny Atkinson. Jerome averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 19.9 minutes per game (70 games). He also shot 51.6 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from beyond the arc (3.6 attempts per game.
With Dennis Schröder, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley set to become unrestricted free agents, the Pistons could easily replace one of them with Jerome. The 27-year-old guard can play defense (113 DRtg) and give Detroit another backcourt option to backup Cunningham or even play next to him on the floor.
Nonetheless, Pistons fans should expect to hear more names connected to them in free agency as this team is on the upward swing after a good 2024-25 season.