The Detroit Pistons have signaled an openness to bring back all of their key NBA free agents this summer — Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schröder.
But if they decide to go another direction, they can clear up to $17 million in cap space (not accounting for any trades) and pursue upgrades elsewhere in free agency. Two power forwards, in particular, appear to be strong roster fits.
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ESPN NBA analyst Bobby Marks recently listed the Pistons as a potential “best free agent fit” for Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid and Milwaukee Bucks big Bobby Portis. Both have player options they could decline for more money. Reid’s is worth $15 million and Portis’ is $13.4 million.
They would each check key boxes in the Pistons’ frontcourt, but at a cost. Here are the pros and cons if the Pistons decide to pursue Reid or Portis in NBA free agency, which begins June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
Naz Reid, Bobby Portis would fill Pistons need at PF
Both Reid, 25, and Portis, 30, fill similar archetypes, and played similar roles on their respective teams.
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Reid, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year, this season averaged 14.2 points, six rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.2% overall and 37.9% from 3 in 80 regular-season games.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris in the second half at Little Caesars Arena, Jan. 4, 2025 in Detroit.
Portis finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting in both 2023 and 2024, and this past season averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, shooting 46.6% overall and 36.5% from 3 in 49 regular-season games.
Tobias Harris is a versatile starting four, and currently is the Pistons’ only reliable shooter who is at least 6 feet 8. Jalen Duren operates almost entirely inside the paint, and Isaiah Stewart only took 53 3-pointers this past season under a new coaching staff and hit them at a 32.3% clip.
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Simone Fontecchio, who will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, shot 33.5% from 3 in a down year.
The Pistons could use more shooting at the power forward and center positions. Reid is a career 37.3% 3-point shooter, and Portis has knocked down 38.3% of his 3s for his career. Either player can log minutes at the four and five, and would give the Pistons insurance as Harris ages (he turns 33 in July). Harris is also a free agent in 2026.
Reid or Portis would unlock lineup versatility the Pistons currently lack. With Duren and Ausar Thompson in the starting lineup, the coaching staff leaned on Harris and Hardaway to provide adequate spacing for the unit. Reid and Portis can play next to Duren or Stewart, and can also log minutes at the five if the Pistons go small with Thompson at the four.
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Signing Naz Reid or Bobby Portis would cost Pistons
Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) goes to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Friday, April 11, 2025.
If either Reid or Portis turn down their player options, they will be seeking a raise. To create enough cap room, the Pistons would have to pass on re-signing all three of their veterans — Beasley, Hardaway and Schröder.
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That would be a steep trade-off. Hardaway started all 83 games he played in this season (including playoffs) and Beasley put together a historic season off the bench, knocking down 319 3-pointers for a 41.6% mark. Schröder brought stability as a veteran point guard and was a top performer helping the Pistons win two playoff games.
If the Pistons create cap room, they will have access to the $8.8 million room exception and $5.1 million bi-annual exception to find replacements on the wing and at backup point guard.
Another pathway the Pistons could pursue: re-signing Hardaway and Schröder using Bird rights and then offering the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception to Reid or Portis. It would be a slight paycut starting salary for Reid, but it would secure his future unlike his player option. The Pistons can offer four years and $60.6 million, but so can some other teams. For Portis, it would be a slight raise.
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The second pathway would allow the Pistons to upgrade their forward rotation while retaining two core veterans. However, it would cost them Beasley, who is due for a big pay raise after playing the 2024-25 season on a bargain $6 million contract. He could earn the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, either from the Pistons or from a different team.
There’s logic for the Pistons to pursue Reid and Portis in NBA free agency.
The Pistons’ second-year front office, led by president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon, executive vice president Michael Blackstone and senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, among others, will have to determine what their veterans will fetch on the open market, and if parting with Beasley is worthwhile if it allows them to upgrade at another position.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons NBA free agency: Debating Naz Reid, Bobby Portis rumors