Hornets: Detroit Pistons players to target in free agency

As a part of our ongoing series detailing which players the Charlotte Hornets should target during free agency, today our attention shifts to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons finished with a 23-59 record and a 14th-place effort in the Eastern Conference. With the reigning first-overall pick, Cade Cunningham, on their roster, Detroit is in the middle of a rebuild and will have plenty to deliberate on in the offseason.

The Hornets might not have many decisions to make when it comes to signing former Pistons players. Detroit has eight players hitting the potential free agent market in 2022, but only one of those eight are an unrestricted free agent.

Hamidou Diallo, Frank Jackson, Luka Garza, and Carsen Edwards are young pieces that have team options for the 2022-23 season. Cory Joseph joins the mix with a player option valued at $5 million. Jamorko Pickett and Marvin Bagley are restricted free agents. That leaves Rodney McGruder as the lone unrestricted free agent on the Pistons year-end roster.

While Bagley will field offers from a series of teams, Detroit may not want to match an offer for the young big. He has been underwhelming in his early seasons; playing for the Kings and Pistons will do that to a young player’s career. Although he is a talent on the offensive end, his inefficiency, lack of defense, and lack of peripheral stats may lead to a disappointing contract offer during the offseason for Bagley. Either way, I would not expect the Hornets to extend an offer this offseason.

If Jackson’s option is declined, he would be an interesting name for Charlotte to pursue. On a team that may need a backup combo guard behind LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, Jackson could be a cheap option that would leave enough cap room for the Hornets to go after a big-name free agent, re-sign Miles Bridges, or trade for an upgrade at center.

All in all, the Pistons do not appear to have much hitting the open market that would fit the Hornets’ needs. Bagley and Jackson might receive offers from Charlotte’s front office, but they would not be brought in to be main-stay starters.