The important decisions that the Detroit Pistons have to make to be a serious championship contender

Although the Detroit Pistons have been quite active this offseason, there is still work to be done, as Omari Sankofa II points out in the Detroit Free Press. One of the main gaps to fill is that of a reliable stretch four, especially after the trade of Simone Fontecchio.

Players like Ausar Thompson and newcomer Ron Holland could try to assume that role behind the starter Tobias Harris, but both are slightly undersized to consistently play in that position.

One of the main assets the team has is a 14.3 million dollar trade exception, stemming from the sign-and-trade with Sacramento involving Dennis Schröder. Although they are not obligated to use it immediately — it expires next summer —, they could leverage it to bolster that position.

Additionally, in Detroit, they must also focus on securing contract extensions for their young starters, Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, whose rookie scale contracts end in 2026. Securing them is a priority for the future of the franchise.

Duncan Robinson, Matas Buzelis, and Taurean Prince

Duncan Robinson, ironclad mentality

The new small forward for the Pistons, arriving from Miami via sign-and-trade, spoke with The Athletic about the psychological work required at the NBA's elite level. "Resilience has been one of the keys to who I want to be," he commented. "Learning to manage challenges is a skill just as important as shooting or dribbling the ball. And it's only learned by experiencing them. I've been fortunate to go through that since I was young. I always asked myself: 'Do you really want this?' and always returned to the same answer: 'Yes, I love basketball more than anything.' It's not who I am, but it's what I do, and it has given me more than I ever imagined."

Matas Buzelis, stepping up in his second year

In Chicago, young power forward Matas Buzelis will take on a more creative role in his second season with the Bulls, according to Chicago Tribune. He has already shown flashes of his offensive playmaking ability in the Summer League. "Handling the ball is natural to me," said Buzelis. "I played as a point guard when I was young, so it's nothing new. I know it will improve over time."

Taurean Prince, versatility for Milwaukee

In Milwaukee, veteran forward Taurean Prince has agreed to waive his implicit veto clause in the two-year minimum contract he recently signed, as reported by Keith Smith (Spotrac). The second season includes a player option, giving him certain contractual rights that he has now chosen to set aside. If traded and rejecting that option, he would lose his Early Bird rights.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las importantes decisiones que tienen que tomar los Detroit Pistons para ser un serio aspirante al anillo