[1] During the off-season, the Pistons signed free agents Brian Williams,[2][3][4][5] and Malik Sealy.
[6][7][8] After winning their first two games, the Pistons lost five straight and struggled with a 6–11 start, as Joe Dumars missed ten games due to a shoulder injury during the first month of the regular season.
[9][10][11][12] In late December, the team traded Theo Ratliff and Aaron McKie to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse and Eric Montross.
[20][21][22] The Pistons held a 22–25 record at the All-Star break,[23] then later on posted a 7-game losing streak between March and April, missing the playoffs by finishing in sixth place in the Central Division with a disappointing 37–45 record.
[31][32] Following the season, Sealy signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves,[33][34][35] while Grant Long re-signed with his former team, the Atlanta Hawks,[36][37][38] and Rick Mahorn re-signed with his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.