The Detroit Pistons were one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Then Cleveland happened. And while that Game 7 loss stung, the front office didn’t waste time wallowing. They went out and got Isaiah Joe from Oklahoma City for two future second-round picks, and it might be the sneakiest roster move of the summer.
Joe isn’t a star. He’s not going to sell jerseys or draw double-teams. But here’s what he does: he shoots the absolute hell out of the ball. Last season he hit 42.3% from three, which ranked him among the top 10 in the entire league. That’s not a fluke either. He’s been north of 40% from deep in three of his five NBA seasons. For a Pistons team that ranked 14th in three-point percentage last year, that’s a very specific need being filled.
There’s also the Duncan Robinson problem. Robinson has been solid for Detroit, but he’s owed $15.9 million next season, and the Pistons are trying to figure out what to do with All-Star center Jalen Duren, who reportedly wasn’t thrilled with the team’s initial contract offer. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, league insiders are wondering if Joe’s arrival signals the end of Robinson’s run in Detroit. Joe will make $11.3 million next year, which is a decent chunk less. That difference matters when you’re trying to free up cap space to pursue someone like Norman Powell in free agency, or just to keep Duren happy.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that Duren is planning to explore sign-and-trade scenarios when they become available. That’s not great news for the Pistons, but having Joe on the roster gives them options. If they do move Robinson, they’ve already got a replacement who can step into that shooting guard role without missing a beat.
People who watched the Thunder closely last season know what Joe can do when he gets minutes. With Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Lu Dort all missing time, Joe stepped up in a big way. He dropped 32 points on the Jazz with a career-high 10 threes. He hit 30-plus points three different times. That’s not bench filler. That’s a guy who can cook when you give him the ball.
The interesting part is why Oklahoma City let him go. It wasn’t about performance. It was about money. With max extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams kicking in soon, the Thunder needed to cut costs. Trading Joe and Aaron Wiggins saved them over $200 million in luxury tax payments. That’s front office math, not a commentary on Joe’s game.
Detroit got a 25-year-old shooter entering his prime, coming off the best season of his career, for basically pennies. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Joe gives them a legit scoring threat that defenses have to respect. And for a team that learned the hard way that shooting wins playoff games, that’s exactly the kind of insurance you want.
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