The 2021–22 Detroit Pistons season was the 81st season of the franchise, the 74th in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the fifth in Midtown Detroit. The Pistons attempted to improve on their record of 20–52 from last season.[1] The Pistons held the first overall pick in the NBA draft for the first time since 1970.[2] The Pistons finished at 23–59, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.[3][4][5]
2021–22 Detroit Pistons season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Dwane Casey |
General manager | Troy Weaver |
Owners | Tom Gores |
Arena | Little Caesars Arena |
Results | |
Record | 23–59 (.280) |
Place | Division: 5th (Central) Conference: 14th (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | Bally Sports Detroit |
Radio | WXYT |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/New_York_Knicks_vs._Detroit_Pistons_December_2021_08_%28in-game_action%29.jpg/220px-New_York_Knicks_vs._Detroit_Pistons_December_2021_08_%28in-game_action%29.jpg)
Draft picks
editRound | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Cade Cunningham | Point guard | ![]() | Oklahoma State |
2 | 37 | JT Thor | Power forward | ![]() | Auburn |
2 | 42 | Isaiah Livers | Small forward | ![]() | Michigan |
2 | 52 | Luka Garza | Center | ![]() | Iowa |
The Pistons held the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, along with three second-round picks entering the draft.[6] The 37th pick was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the 57th pick.[7]
Roster
editPlayers | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Standings
editDivision
editCentral Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y – Milwaukee Bucks | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 27–14 | 24–17 | 12–4 | 82 |
x – Chicago Bulls | 46 | 36 | .561 | 5.0 | 27–14 | 19–22 | 10–6 | 82 |
pi − Cleveland Cavaliers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 7.0 | 25–16 | 19–22 | 10–6 | 82 |
Indiana Pacers | 25 | 57 | .305 | 26.0 | 16–25 | 9–32 | 2–14 | 82 |
Detroit Pistons | 23 | 59 | .280 | 28.0 | 13–28 | 10–31 | 6–10 | 82 |
Conference
editEastern Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | c – Miami Heat * | 53 | 29 | .646 | – | 82 |
2 | y – Boston Celtics * | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
3 | y – Milwaukee Bucks * | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
4 | x – Philadelphia 76ers | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
5 | x – Toronto Raptors | 48 | 34 | .585 | 5.0 | 82 |
6 | x – Chicago Bulls | 46 | 36 | .561 | 7.0 | 82 |
7 | x − Brooklyn Nets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9.0 | 82 |
8 | pi − Cleveland Cavaliers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9.0 | 82 |
9 | x − Atlanta Hawks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 10.0 | 82 |
10 | pi − Charlotte Hornets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 10.0 | 82 |
11 | New York Knicks | 37 | 45 | .451 | 16.0 | 82 |
12 | Washington Wizards | 35 | 47 | .427 | 18.0 | 82 |
13 | Indiana Pacers | 25 | 57 | .305 | 28.0 | 82 |
14 | Detroit Pistons | 23 | 59 | .280 | 30.0 | 82 |
15 | Orlando Magic | 22 | 60 | .268 | 31.0 | 82 |
Game log
editPreseason
edit2021 preseason game log Total: 2–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preseason: 2–2 (home: 2–0; road: 0–2)
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2021–22 season schedule |
Regular season
editTransactions
editOverview
editPlayers Added Via draft Via trade Via free agency | Players Lost Via trade Via free agency Waived |
Trades
editAugust 6, 2021[7] | To Detroit Pistons Draft rights to Balša Koprivica | To Charlotte Hornets Mason Plumlee Draft rights to JT Thor |
September 4, 2021[10] | To Detroit Pistons DeAndre Jordan 2022 second round draft pick 2024 second round draft pick (from Washington via Brooklyn) 2025 second round draft pick (from Golden State via Brooklyn) 2027 second round draft pick
| To Brooklyn Nets Sekou Doumbouya Jahlil Okafor |
February 10, 2022[11] | Four-team trade | |
To Milwaukee Bucks Serge Ibaka (from Los Angeles) Two future second round picks (from Sacramento and Detroit) Cash considerations (from Los Angeles) | To Los Angeles Clippers Rodney Hood (from Milwaukee) Semi Ojeleye (from Milwaukee) | |
To Sacramento Kings Donte DiVincenzo (from Milwaukee) Josh Jackson (from Detroit) Trey Lyles (from Detroit) | To Detroit Pistons Marvin Bagley III (from Sacramento) |
Free agency
editRe-signed
editDate | Player | Contract terms | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
August 6 | Saben Lee | 3-year contract | [12][13] |
August 11 | Frank Jackson | 2-year contract | [14][15][16][17][18][19] |
Cory Joseph | 2-year contract worth $10 million | ||
Rodney McGruder | 1-year contract | ||
August 19 | Hamidou Diallo | 2-year contract worth $10.4 million | [20][21] |
Additions
editDate | Player | Contract terms | Former team | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 6 | Trey Lyles | 2-year contract worth $5 million | San Antonio Spurs | [13][22][23] |
Kelly Olynyk | 3-year contract worth $37 million | Houston Rockets | ||
August 17 | Chris Smith | Two-way contract | UCLA Bruins | [24] |
September 22 | Anthony Tarke | Exhibit 10 contract | Coppin State Eagles | [25] |
September 24 | Jamorko Pickett | Two-way contract | Georgetown Hoyas | [26] |
September 28 | Cassius Stanley | Exhibit 10 contract | Indiana Pacers | [27] |
Derrick Walton | Exhibit 10 contract | ![]() | ||
September 29 | Jared Cunningham | Exhibit 10 contract | ![]() | [28] |
March 24 | Braxton Key | 10-day contract | Delaware Blue Coats | [29] |
April 3 | Carsen Edwards | 2-year contract | Salt Lake City Stars | [30][31] |
Subtractions
editDate | Player | Reason | New team | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 31 | Tyler Cook | Waived | Chicago Bulls | [18][32][33] |
Cory Joseph | — | |||
August 6 | Wayne Ellington | Unrestricted free agent | Los Angeles Lakers | [34] |
Rodney McGruder | Waived | — | [19][35] | |
September 7 | DeAndre Jordan | Waived | Los Angeles Lakers | [36][37] |
September 23 | Dennis Smith Jr. | Unrestricted free agent | Portland Trail Blazers | [38] |
September 27 | Anthony Tarke | Waived | Motor City Cruise | [39][40] |
September 29 | Deividas Sirvydis | Waived | Motor City Cruise | [32][28][40] |
October 16 | Jared Cunningham | Waived | Motor City Cruise | [41][40] |
Cassius Stanley | Motor City Cruise | |||
Derrick Walton | Motor City Cruise | |||
April 3 | Chris Smith | Waived | — | [31] |