The Detroit Pistons won 64 games last season. They had the best record in the Eastern Conference. And after the first week of free agency, they’re objectively less dangerous than they were in April.
That’s not easy to pull off.
The Pistons lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in the second round. That series exposed something a lot of people suspected: Cade Cunningham needs a real co-star. Not a role player. Not a guy who can get hot for a quarter. A legit second star who defenses have to scheme for. And so far this offseason, the Pistons haven’t added anyone close to that. Worse, they subtracted.
They let Tobias Harris walk and traded Isaiah Stewart
Harris was the Pistons’ second-leading scorer in the playoffs. He wasn’t perfect, but he was a reliable 18-point option who took pressure off Cunningham. Now he’s headed to San Antonio. Isaiah Stewart, who gave Detroit some much-needed physicality in the frontcourt, was traded to Memphis. In two weeks, the Pistons lost their second-best scorer and their most aggressive big man.
What they brought in: Kevin Huerter on a re-sign and John Collins in a trade. Those are fine players. Huerter can shoot. Collins is athletic. But neither of them is a No. 2 option on a team that expects to compete for a title. They’re complementary pieces, not difference-makers.
The Jalen Duren situation is getting messy
There’s also the unresolved situation with Jalen Duren. Before free agency opened, Duren said publicly that he felt lowballed by the Pistons and wanted out. Detroit has held firm, saying they don’t plan to trade him. But if Duren walks or forces his way out, that’s another significant piece gone from around Cunningham. The organization is essentially betting they can patch things up. That’s a risky bet.
They tried for Kevin Durant. It didn’t go anywhere.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Pistons had conversations about acquiring Kevin Durant. But those talks never got close to the finish line. The Houston Rockets, who control Durant’s rights, aren’t eager to move him. So Detroit swung for the fences and missed. And there isn’t a clear Plan B out there.
All of this adds up to a team that peaked too early. The Pistons were great last season, but the roster had clear limitations. Those limitations haven’t been addressed. In fact, they’ve gotten worse. Cunningham is still signed. The core is still young. But the window for contention doesn’t wait around while you figure out your roster.
It’s only July. There’s time. Trades can happen. Something might break Detroit’s way. But right now, the Pistons are the team that had the best regular season in the conference and came out of the first week of free agency looking like they took a step backward. That’s a tough look.
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