The Detroit Pistons have plenty of tough offseason decisions to make, including on their pending free agents. Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schröder, and Paul Reed's contracts are expiring this summer, and GM Trajan Langdon has to strike the fine balance between continuity and making upgrades where necessary.
Beasley, Hardaway, and Schröder provided the Pistons with much-needed veteran presence throughout last season, playing a large role in the 30-win improvement from a season ago. Depending on their asking price, the Pistons would ideally be interested in bringing back all of these veterans. More likely scenario, however, is that the team will have to part ways with at least one of them for financial reasons.
Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press believes that the name the Pistons let walk may be Tim Hardaway Jr.
"His return comes down to two things — will he accept a smaller role, and for less money?... Given this may be his last chance at a multi-year contract, Hardaway also has incentive to test the market first. "Omari Sankofa, Detroit Free Press
While acknowledging the value THJ brings to the table, Sankofa said that the veteran shooting guard would only return if he accepts a smaller role and less money. The 33-year-old made $16.1 million for the 2024-25 season while starting in 77 games and playing 28 minutes of action.
If the Pistons want to take the next step forward, they can't afford to pay THJ as much. They also need to upgrade at the shooting guard position. Hardaway is a decent offensive SG, but he is not a good enough shooter to compensate for his defensive shortcomings.
Detroit can likely find a better shooter in that spot for less money than Hardaway Jr. was paid last season. As a seventh or eighth man in the rotation and on less than $10 million per year salary, Hardaway could still be helpful. Anything more than that should make the Pistons look elsewhere.