The Detroit Pistons have been active this NBA offseason, albeit not to the degree that the fan base hoped to see. While replacing the departing Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardaway Jr. with Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert while re-signing Paul Reed is far from the worst summertime performance, those moves do little in terms of helping the Pistons take another step towards being title contenders.
The Pistons still have an open roster spot, though, and fans are curious to see who they'll use it on. When asked about the type of player Detroit might target this summer, Clutch Point's Brett Siegel hinted that it likely won't be a big-name signing.
"If anything, (the Pistons will) find a solid veteran to round out their bench on a minimum contract," Siegel wrote on Thursday.
Probably not. If anything, they’ll find a solid veteran to round out their bench on a min contract.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) July 9, 2025
Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert to replace Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schroder is good business from the Pistons.
And they have a $14M TPE that can be used at trade deadline. https://t.co/pNbTq6YLdq
If the Pistons are looking to hand out another veteran minimum deal, using it on a power forward makes the most sense. There isn't much PF depth beyond Tobias Harris whereas Ron Holland is more of a small forward, highlighting the need for general manager Trajan Langdon to add another vet to the frontcourt.
Pistons Must Sign Trey Lyles to Final Roster Spot This Offseason
There are still a handful of veteran PFs sitting on the open market in the second week of July, including Trey Lyles. The former Kentucky product previously spent time in the Motor City during the 2021-22 campaign, and could be the perfect candidate to sign for the last bench spot.
Lyles is an experienced veteran with 650 regular-season games (131 starts) under his belt, as well as 12 appearances in the postseason. He played 51 of those outings in a Pistons jersey after signing a two-year, $5 million contract in August 2021; however, his stint ended at the following trade deadline when he was moved in a four-team deal that saw Marvin Bagley III end up in Detroit.
Since being traded from the Pistons, Lyles has spent parts of the last four seasons with the Sacramento Kings. He averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds with .448/.362/.771 shooting splits in 225 games during that stretc that also saw him average 6.6 points and 5.7 boards in seven playoff outings.
Lyles is far from the best defender, but his combination of mobility, driving ability, and shooting skills would make him a solid addition to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff's lineup. Besides, there's nothing to lose with his playing on a minimum contract — especially if he manages to exceed expectations.
Lyles' first stint in Detroit didn't work out, but that had a lot to do with his being the wrong fit at the wrong time. A lot has changed for both sides in three years, making it worth rolling the dice on the Canadian veteran if he's willing to take a team-friendly deal.
With how quickly other free agents are getting snatched up, the Pistons must try to reunite with Lyles before it's too late.