In order to completely understand the moves a team makes the timeline of events must be listed as well.

Pre Draft

• Pistons make a move to get a shooter by trading for Cam Johnson. It costs them shipping out Ivey and Beef Stew but they also bring back 2 FRP swap options, 2 SRPs, and pick 55 this year.

  • Explanation: Cam reunites with Monte giving both a familiar face to rely on shows commitment to both. It also shows a change to get more shooting and fit around their 3 young core of Cade, Ausar, and Duren

• Decline Fournier's option

• Waive Troy Brown Jr

• Decline Metu's option

Draft

• Pick 5 the Pistons select Ron Holland

• Pick 53 the Pistons select Oso Ighodaro

• Pick 55 the Pistons select Antonio Reeves

Explanation: In a draft with little upside, the Pistons swing for the highest upside player in Holland. Ighodaro and Reeves both end up on two way deals

Free Agency

• Miles Bridges comes back to Michigan on a 4 year 100 million dollar deal. This includes a 4th year team option for 25 million

• Sign Buddy Hield to a 3 year 54 million dollar deal. This includes a 3rd year player option for 19 million.

• Sign Gary Trent Jr. to a 4 year 60 million dollar deal. This includes a 4th year team option for 15 million.

• Trade for Zeke Nnaji from the Nuggets and receive a swap option in the process.

  • Sign Mo Bamba to a 3 year 10 million dollar deal. This includes a 2nd year team option and a 3rd year non guaranteed year.

  • Sign Pat Bev to a 1 year minimum

  • Sign Trendon Watford to a 2 year 16 million dollar deal. This includes a 2nd year team option. They use the entire Room MLE to sign Watford making the Nets avoid matching.

  • Extend Cade Cunningham to a max rookie extension without language for the all nba boost

Non Decisions

• Not extending Grimes puts pressure on him to outperform both GTJ and Buddy Hield who are both on longer deals already

Start of Season

Starting lineup:

• Cade Cunningham

• Gary Trent Jr

• Ausar Thompson

• Miles Bridges

• Jalen Duren

Off the bench they lean on Beverly, Buddy, Holland, Cam Johnson and Nnaji. There is tons of youth not even getting minutes with Sasser, Grimes and Watford being forced to work into the rotation.

During the season

• The season starts bit slower until Monte figures out rotations. Ausar gets moved to the bench for Buddy allowing him to handle the ball more and Grimes to get the playing time that Beverly was getting. Ausar plays 1-5 giving the team so much flexibility in how they mix and match rotations. Holland gets moved out of the rotation for a stretch in December/January but works his way back after the trade deadline. Buddy gets shopped at the deadline with the asking price being expiring money and a protected FRP.