My Mock Offseason
My "realistic" summer for the Pistons:
Operating as an over-the-cap team but targeting staying under the 201M luxury tax threshold for the '26-'27 season ..
Step 1) Sign Duren to 5/160 at a flat 32M annually, extend Thompson on 4/124 at a flat 31M annually, resign Tobias to a 2 year deal for 2/32M
Step 2) Trade Caris Levert + Marcus Sasser + 2027 Dallas 2nd + 2028 Clippers 2nd for Cam Johnson (career .396 from 3 on 7.7 attempts per 36 minutes)
Step 3) Sign Anfernee Simons (career .381 from 3 on 8.9 attempts per 36 minutes) to 2 + 1 team option at the full MLE
PG: Cade / Daniss
SG: Simons / Dunc
SF: Thompson / Holland
PF: Cam / Tobias
C: Duren / Stew / P Reed
If my math is correct this keeps the Pistons under the luxury tax (or close enough where some future maneuvering can get them under) for one more year assuming they fill out the remaining roster spots with veteran minimums. Gores needs to be ready to pay the tax in 2027-2028 when Thompson's extension kicks in.
Head into the season with significantly more 3 point shooting while keeping the young core intact and hoping for internal development. Spacing is much better in the starting group and the bench unit has a ton of experience, shooting and playmaking. Roster continuity keeps the defense-first and winning culture firmly in place.
They would also have multiple tradeable contracts heading into the season and toward the deadline:
-Cam Johnson 23M expiring
-Duncan Robinson 16M non guaranteed
-Isaiah Stewart 15M team option
-Paul Reed 5.6M expiring
and would retain all their future draft capital for a potential consolidation trade down the line