The Detroit Pistons have tendered a qualifying offer to Saben Lee. He's now a restricted free agent.

Lee was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 38th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Vanderbilt product was traded to the Pistons in a salary-clearing trade for the Jazz. Lee then signed a one-year Two-Way contract with the Pistons.

As Detroit had injuries in their backcourt, Lee saw more NBA action than was initially planned for. He played in 48 games, with seven starts. Overall, Lee averaged 5.6 points and 3.6 assists in 16.3 minutes per game.

The Pistons also renounced the draft rights to Jaylen Hands. Hands was drafted with the 56th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the LA Clippers. Hands' draft rights were traded from the Clippers to the Brooklyn Nets on draft night. Hands then spent the year with the Long Island Nets of the G-League.

The Pistons acquired the draft rights for Hands in a three-team trade that involved the Clippers and Nets last offseason. He played last season in Serbia.

The Detroit Pistons are signing Chris Smith to a Two-Way contract. Smith went undrafted out of UCLA at the 2021 NBA Draft.

The 6'8'' forward was a four-year player for the Bruins. He averaged 12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a senior. Smith was an Early Entry Candidate for the draft. He chose to stay in the draft, as opposed to taking advantage of the NCAA allowing seniors an additional season of eligibility in 2021-22.

The Detroit Pistons is finalizing a trade to send Mason Plumlee and the No. 37 pick to the Charlotte Hornets for No. 57.

Detroit signed Plumlee to a three-year, $25 million deal during the 2020 offseason. 

The Hornets have been looking to add a center this offseason.

The Detroit Pistons have decided to select Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick in Thursday's draft.

The Pistons also considered Jalen Green and Evan Mobley as well as various draft offers.

The Houston Rockets will select second followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 3.

Cunningham has widely been considered the best prospect in the draft though there isn't a definitive consensus with some believing the draft has three players who would be a No. 1 caliber pick in most years.

The Pistons met with Cunningham a final time on Wednesday to finalize their decision. While trade offers continue to be made, the Pistons intend to select Cunningham if they keep the pick for themselves. 

A commitment by the Detroit Pistons to select Cade Cunningham first overall "could be imminent," sources tell Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Both the front office and ownership are on the same page on Cunningham.

"Cunningham's standing in Detroit has strengthened throughout the pre-draft process to the point that it would be extremely surprising if the Pistons did anything but pick him No. 1," writes Givony.

The Pistons also hosted Jalen Green for a workout and a visit while they've been unable to schedule Evan Mobley.

Cade Cunningham has agreed to an endorsement deal with Nike. The agreement is believed to be the richest for any player that will be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Cunningham is widely expected to be the first overall pick in the draft by the Detroit Pistons. In his one season at Oklahoma State University, Cunningham showed off an impressive all-around game. Several teams are rumored to be offering trades to Detroit, with an eye on selecting Cunningham.

In recent years, Nike has become more selective in who they give shoe deals to. This represents a belief that Cunningham will become a star in the NBA that is worth of his own signature shoe.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have offered Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 6 pick to the Detroit Pistons for the No. 1 overall pick in hopes of selecting Cade Cunningham, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

The offer represents a change in thinking for the Thunder on Gilgeous-Alexander as each of the teams with the top-4 picks in 2020 were quickly rebuffed when inquiring on him last year. Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible for an extension this summer worth up to $168 million over five years. 

"It's going to take a f--king lot to get him, but he's no longer impossible to get," said one team executive. 

The Pistons have consistently sent a message to teams calling on No. 1 that they will require a first in this year's draft, future draft assets an an established young star.

Oklahoma City is expected to continue seeking ways to move up with the Toronto Raptors at No. 4 a possibility. 

The Detroit Pistons continue to internally discuss what direction to go in with the first overall pick, sources tell ESPN.

The Pistons aren't "fully there yet" on picking Cunningham first. The Pistons are also discussing Jalen Green and Evan Mobley.

By most accounts, Cunningham is the player at the top of most draft boards but it is not a universally shared opinion around the league.

The Pistons have also received trade offers for the selection. 

The Detroit Pistons have extended qualifying offers to Hamidou Diallo and Frank Jackson, sources told James Edwards III of The Athletic.

Detroit acquired Diallo from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the 2021 trade deadline. Jackson joined the Pistons on a Two-Way contract in late-December after being waived by the Thunder.

Both Diallo and Jackson will now be restricted free agents. As restricted free agents, Detroit retains the right to match any offer sheet either player may sign. Diallo's qualifying offer projects to be $2.1 million. Jackson's qualifying offer projects to be $1.7 million.

Cade Cunningham visited the Detroit Pistons on Monday and Tuesday last week and remains the favorite to be picked No. 1. Cunningham attended a Tigers' baseball game on Monday and had a light shooting workout on Tuesday.

"Cunningham's standing in Detroit has strengthened throughout the pre-draft process to the point that it would be extremely surprising if the Pistons did anything but pick him No. 1," writes Jonathan Givony. "Ownership and the front office are on the same page."

The Pistons have been unable to schedule Evan Mobley for a workout even though he's a favorite of general manager of Troy Weaver. 

The Pistons have received interest from teams in trading for the pick.