Pistons improved, but still rank way behind in stacked NBA Eastern Conference
Ahmad GarnettThe 2024 NBA draft is over, free agency is mostly done, and one thing is clear: The Eastern Conference has grown stronger.
The Boston Celtics, after a dominant run to the 2024 title, showed the rest of the conference there is a need for more talent. The top teams in the East responded, and many have an argument they are better than last season.
That starts with the Philadelphia 76ers, who added Paul George in the biggest free agency move of the offseason, forming an All-Star trio with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The New York Knicks added to their "Nova Knicks" theme with a blockbuster deal to bring Mikal Bridges across town from the Brooklyn Nets for five first-round picks. That pairs him with his former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart.
The Milwaukee Bucks didn't make a splash, but return Damian Lillard for a his second season with Giannis Antetokounmpo. They still loom large as a threat, despite a disappointing first year together, which included the insertion of Doc Rivers as head coach at the halfway mark.
And then there's the Detroit Pistons, the worst team in the NBA over the past five seasons since last making the playoffs in 2019. Their highest win total since then is a meager 23, and they finished with a franchise-worst 14 wins last season.
The Pistons used this offseason to completely revamp their leadership, installing New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon as president of basketball operations and moving off previous head of basketball Troy Weaver. Langdon hired J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach and brought in some interesting pieces in the draft and free agency, including No. 5 overall pick Ron Holland and veteran forward Tobias Harris.
Where do the new-look Pistons rank in the Eastern Conference, heading into the 2024-25 season?
Here's how we see the conference shaping up as of July (*indicates rookie).
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No. 1: Boston Celtics
The 2024 champs took care of their in-house duties. They re-signed some back-end rotational pieces, agreed on an NBA-record contract extension with Jayson Tatum ($314 million over five years) and extended Derrick White on a four-year, $126 million deal. The same roster is coming back to Boston, and though they will be without Kristaps Porzingis (leg surgery) for much of the winter, they are the team to beat and primed for a potential Finals repeat.
Key additions: None.
Key departures: None.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have made the playoffs seven seasons in a row, but have failed to make it to the East finals. Picking up George, 34, this offseason after his stunning contract breakdown with the Los Angeles Clippers serves as another push for the 76ers to get closer to their goal. They lost some good players in free agency, but added other solid veterans to fill gaps.
Key additions: Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon.
Key departures: Nicolas Batum, De'Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, Paul Reed, Cameron Payne.
3. New York Knicks
The Knicks defeated the Sixers in one of the best first-round series in recent years, but then lost in Game 7 at home to underdog Indiana, while dealing with numerous injuries. They used most of their current and future ammo to secure Bridges, then re-signed O.G. Anunoby (five years, $213 million) whom they traded for last season. Their center depth is suspect after losing Isaiah Hartenstein to Oklahoma City in free agency, but Julius Randle returns after missing the season's entire second half.
Key additions: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Payne.
Key departures: Isaiah Hartenstein, Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks had a tumultuous season but still went 49-33. They then suffered a first-round exit in six games to upstart Indiana, with injuries to Antetokounmpo and Lillard. The Bucks added some rotational veteran pieces to their roster, but more continuity and better health late in the season will be the best-case scenario for the Bucks to rebound next season.
Key additions: Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr., Delon Wright.
Key departures: Malik Beasley.
5. Indiana Pacers
The young Pacers surpassed expectations after making the East finals, but the lack of playoff experience showed in their series sweep from the Celtics. The young Pacers took care of their own this offseason, re-signing Pascal Siakam (four years, $189 million) after an in-season trade, and bringing back Obi Toppin (four years, $58 million). They are primed to show last season's run was not a fluke.
Key additions: James Wiseman.
Key departures: Jalen Smith.
6. Orlando Magic
The Magic made one of free agency's biggest moves in signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope away from Denver (three years, $66 million). He is a great vet, a two-time NBA champion, who can help offensively and defensively for the shooting-stricken Magic. They also extended a rookie max deal to Franz Wagner for five years and $224 million.
Key additions: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Key departures: Joe Ingles.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
After firing Bickerstaff despite advancing past the first round, the Cavs brought in former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson as their new coach. A fairly quite offseason for the Cavs centered around their ability to extend Donavan Mitchell (three years and $150 million). Now they need their core of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley (who just signed a rookie max deal of $224 million over five years) and Jarrett Allen to prove they can stay healthy and mesh better.
Key additions: None.
Key departures: None.
8. Miami Heat
No matter the roster, the Heat have been able to make it to the postseason more often than not. The aura around the franchise is evident. This offseason they extended Bam Adebayo (three years, $165 million) but lost a key contributor in Martin to the Sixers. Jimmy Butler, entering his sixth season in Miami, is set to play out the final year of his deal, and the Heat hope to have him healthy for more than his Miami-high of 64 games in 2022-23.
Key additions: Alec Burks.
Key departures: Caleb Martin.
9. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks pulled the plug on their Murray-Trae Young backcourt pairing of two years, recouping some picks by dealing Murray to the Pelicans, and receiving 2022 No. 8 overall pick Dyson Daniels, an intriguing 6-foot-7, 21-year-old guard who can't yet make 3s consistently. They also lucked out to win the draft lottery, and took French supersized wing Zaccharie Risacher.
Key additions: *Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr.
Key departures: Dejounte Murray, AJ Griffin.
10. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls finally admitted the time has passed to contend with their previous veteran core. The lost leading scorer and assister DeMar DeRozan, and dealt 3-and-D stud Alex Caruso to OKC. In is former No. 6 pick Josh Giddey to team up with Coby White in the backcourt, and they re-signed Patrick Williams on a hefty deal ($90 million over five years). But the Bulls still have former All-Stars in Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. Finding a taker for either won't be easy, but if they do, they could sink quickly in the East.
Key additions: Josh Giddey, Jalen Smith, *Matas Buzelis.
Key departures: DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, Andre Drummond.
11. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors took care of their young pieces signing Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes to big-money rookie extensions. They are now fully committed to a rebuild around a young core, which also includes RJ Barrett, but have major work to do to get back to the playoffs. Securing your young talent is a start.
Key additions: Davion Mitchell.
Key departures: Gary Trent Jr.
12. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets started the offseason by trading Bridges across town, finally admitting they had to tear it all down. They also got their 2025 first-round pick back from Houston in a swap of picks, setting themselves up to "Sag for Cooper Flagg" and the rest of a hyped top of the 2025 draft.
Key additions: Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton.
Key departures: Mikal Bridges.
13. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets brought back Miles Bridges (three years, $75 million), but need a healthy season from LaMelo Ball. He has played in 58 games combined the past two seasons. The Hornets hired rising NBA assistant Charles Lee as head coach to pair with Jeff Peterson, hired in February as executive vice president of basketball operations.
Key additions: *Tidjane Salaun, Josh Green.
Key departures: None.
14. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons used their money wisely this offseason, but the biggest move was extending Cade Cunningham on a rookie max deal for five years and $224 million. Now he must keep getting better, and needs at least one of his former lottery pick teammates to join him on a star track. Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley will help the offensive spacing, as will the return of Simone Fontecchio. How Bickerstaff guides the young group and staggers a deeper roster will be crucial to wiping away the stain and pain of the past 16 years with no playoff wins. Just remember, getting one more top-five pick in the tantalizing 2025 draft might be more important to the future than 20-something wins.
Key additions: Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Beasley, Paul Reed, *Ron Holland.
Key departures: Quentin Grimes, James Wiseman.
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15. Washington Wizards
The Wizards have six straight under .500 seasons, but finally made the plunge to the bottom in 2023-24. They took French center Alex Sarr with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and traded perhaps their best two-way player, Deni Avdija, to Portland. They used the No. 14 pick in the deal to select Pittsburgh guard Bub Carrington, and signed Jonas Valanciunas in free agency (three years, $30 million). Former Pistons forward Saddiq Bey was a late signing in free agency, after Weaver joined the front office as a senior advisor, but Bey will miss much of the season while recovering from a torn ACL in March.
Key additions: *Alex Sarr, *Bub Carrington, Malcolm Brogdon, Jonas Valanciunas, Saddiq Bey.
Key departures: Deni Avdija.
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