NBA free agency is about to take over the league as the 2025 negotiation window opens on Monday. The Detroit Pistons will be one of the more intriguing teams to watch after returning to the NBA postseason with a 44-win performance, leaving time to tell if that success is a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come in the Motor City.
As much as Pistons fans would love to see some new blood added to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff's lineup, the team must address its own free agents first, especially when it comes to the backcourt. Dennis Schroder, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley will become unrestricted free agents at the 6 p.m. ET deadline, and none are guaranteed to return.
Although there's still time to re-sign some of their free agents, it sounds like the Pistons are about to part ways with one of those names, judging by a veteran's latest comments.
Dennis Schroder's Offseason Comments Telegraph Pistons Exit in Free Agency
An interesting moment occurred during one of Schroder's live streams. After a Pistons fan begged the veteran guard to stay in Detroit, the former 2013 first-rounder hinted that the situation might be out of his hands, regardless of how he feels.
"Yeah, I want to stay in Detroit for sure, but Detroit ain't waiting for me," Schroder said (h/t @ClutchPoints). "I can tell you that much."
“I want to stay in Detroit, but Detroit ain’t waiting for me.”🫣
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 29, 2025
- Dennis Schroder
(via @DS17_FG)
pic.twitter.com/jTSrcsS6hR
Reading between the lines, it sounds like Schroder wants to test his worth on the open market, and the Pistons aren't interested in that risk. The last thing Detroit needs is to let that happen and for Schroder to sign elsewhere, and the front office is likely even less willing to roll the dice on that now that Beasley is under investigation for gambling on NBA games.
If Schroder is fully set on seeing what kind of contract he can land elsewhere, the Pistons may have already moved on from the veteran guard.
Schroder opened the 2024-25 season with the Golden State Warriors, but was sent to the Motor City as a part of the five-team trade that landed Jimmy Butler in the Bay. The German-born guard went on to play 28 regular-season games, handling starter and backup responsibilities, averaging 10.8 points, 5.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and .378/.302/.833 shooting splits.
He then made some noise in the postseason, putting up 12.5 PPG with a 49.1 FG% and 47.6 3P% in six outings.
Although Schroder's Pistons stint was brief, that's the nature of the NBA. He likely won't struggle to find work due to his having well over 900 regular-season and playoff games under his belt. He played a big role in helping Detroit return to the postseason, and Pistons fans will always be thankful to him for that.