As teams complete their seasons, ESPN Insider's NBA team will take a look at the offseason picture and priorities for all 30 teams. Below, Kevin Pelton offers a snapshot of the Detroit Pistons.
2014-15 record: 32-50
Pythagorean record: 38-44
Offensive rating: 102.3 (17th)
Defensive rating: 104.2 (21st)
Draft picks
Own first-round pick (8th entering lottery)
Own second-round pick (38th)
Projected cap space
Maximum: $34.7 million
Minimum: $0
Likely: $16.2 million
What's returning
The one sure starter for the 2015-16 Pistons is center Andre Drummond. With new coach Stan Van Gundy hoping to develop him into a post scorer, Drummond started his third season poorly before moving back into a more comfortable role as pick-and-roll finisher and offensive rebounder. By season's end, he'd showed progress in the post and led the NBA in offensive rebound percentage for a second consecutive season. Still just 21, Drummond has the potential to grow into a DeAndre Jordan-like presence in the paint.
Starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is an RPM favorite, but he's yet to shoot the ball consistently from the NBA 3-point line, making just 34.5 percent of his attempts in his second season. Backup Jodie Meeks saw his 3-point percentage tumble from 40.1 percent to 34.9 percent and probably will settle somewhere in between.
Just as he was playing the best basketball of his career, point guard Brandon Jennings saw his season ended by a ruptured Achilles that throws his future into doubt. Achilles injuries have been among the most problematic for NBA players in terms of future performance, and Jennings may be on his way out of Detroit if Van Gundy believes 2014 second-round pick Spencer Dinwiddie can handle regular minutes as a backup.
Free agents
Playing for the Pistons' one-year qualifying offer in order to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, Greg Monroe began the season on the bench and emerged as Detroit's most reliable player. Now will he exit the Motor City? Monroe has been linked to the New York Knicks, a report he denied.
At the deadline, Detroit added restricted free agent Reggie Jackson from the Oklahoma City Thunder, surely with an eye toward re-signing him as Jennings' long-term replacement at point guard. Jackson averaged 17.6 points, 9.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game with the Pistons, and while per-possession stats take some of the air out of those figures, it was still the best extended stretch of Jackson's career. He built strong pick-and-roll chemistry with Drummond.
Biggest need: forward upgrades
If Monroe indeed leaves in free agency, Detroit will have major needs at both forward spots. The Pistons had reasonable success playing journeymen stretch-4s Anthony Tolliver and Shawne Williams at power forward when Monroe was sidelined by a knee injury, but that's probably testament to Van Gundy's system more than their ability.
Detroit finished the season with veterans Caron Butler and Tayshaun Prince at small forward. Both are far past their prime, and if they return -- Prince is a free agent, while Butler's $4.5 million salary is non-guaranteed -- it will surely be at lower prices. With young options at both guard spots and center, expect the Pistons to look at the forward positions in the draft.
Biggest question: Will Van Gundy the president help Van Gundy the coach?
While Van Gundy's dual role as president of basketball operations hasn't been as problematic as Doc Rivers' work as an executive for the Clippers, his first offseason was shaky. Van Gundy overpaid for middling veterans such as Butler, but did manage to maintain flexibility. After stretching Josh Smith's contract, Detroit figures to have more than $16 million in cap space -- a figure that would grow to $26 million if Monroe leaves. Will Van Gundy use it wisely?
Ideal offseason
Though he's not an ideal fit next to Drummond, Monroe's return would still be a good thing for the Pistons, provided the money isn't crazy. Detroit was better with Monroe and Drummond on the court together than Drummond alone, per NBA.com/Stats. Those two and Tolliver would make for a solid three-man rotation in the frontcourt, allowing the Pistons to use their remaining cap space going after a 3-and-D small forward such as Danny Green, Khris Middleton or DeMarre Carroll. With those spots strengthened, Detroit could afford to think long-term in the draft with a prospect such as Texas power forward Myles Turner or Croatian wing Mario Hezonja.