2026 NBA Trade Deadline

[buddha]

the pistons are reminding me of the lions a bit.  "we're not going to add talent because we're good with our culture and our people.  next man up!"

it was hubris for the lions.  the pistons seem to be preaching patience and are saving their coin to extend ausar and duren (and i wouldnt be surprised if they pay tobias too).  but sometimes falling in love with your own talent instead of adding outside talent is just as bad as making a gamble trade for short term improvement.

you have the best record in a weak eastern conference, why not add someone who could potentially take you over the top?  you never know what the future is, cade could sprain his ankle or have a calf sprain next year.  look at orlando's season this year.  strike while the iron is hot.

[Deleterious]

So looking at next years cap numbers.  Assuming the salary cap projection of $166 million holds up.  

If Detroit renounces all of their free agents except Duren they will have $15.5 million in cap space.  Which means they will basically have no cap space, since the MLE will be between $15 and $16 million.

So they will have the MLE + the BAE which will be $5.5 million, maybe six.