The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade finally happened. Milwaukee sent its franchise player to Miami for a massive package, and Tyler Herro was part of the return. Now the 26-year-old guard is staring at a winter in Milwaukee instead of South Beach. But he might not be there long.
According to Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Bucks are open to trading Herro. They’re also open to keeping him. It depends on what offers come in. Herro has one season left on his $33 million deal, which makes him an attractive rental for a contender or a building block for a team willing to extend him.
Detroit should be all over this. The Pistons are coming off a breakthrough season and need a running mate for Cade Cunningham in the backcourt. Herro fits that role better than Duncan Robinson, who currently holds the starting shooting guard spot. Both guys are shooters, but Herro creates his own shot and can carry scoring stretches when Cunningham sits. That’s not nothing for a team that wants to stay in the playoff mix.
The salary math is tricky but doable
Detroit is about $31 million over the cap. Milwaukee is about $24 million over. So any trade needs to be reasonably balanced. The Pistons probably have to send out at least two players to make the numbers work.
The good news for Detroit: Milwaukee is entering a rebuild. The Bucks just traded a generational superstar. They’re not worried about winning now. They’re worried about collecting assets and clearing future cap space. That means they’d be interested in expiring contracts and draft picks. Both things Detroit has.
Caris LeVert is entering the final year of his deal at $14 million. Duncan Robinson still has two years left at $16.8 million per season, but he’s a known shooter who could be flipped at the deadline next year. Combine those two with the right draft capital and you’ve got a real offer.
The package that might get it done
Here’s what makes sense: LeVert, Robinson, the No. 21 pick in the 2026 draft, Detroit’s unprotected 2027 first-rounder, and a lottery-protected 2028 first-rounder. Milwaukee sends back Herro and a future second-round pick.
Herro is probably worth two first-round picks on his own. But the Bucks are taking on Robinson’s longer contract and absorbing LeVert’s salary for a year. That’s not nothing. Adding protection on the 2028 pick and getting a second-rounder back gives Detroit some insurance if things go sideways.
Milwaukee walks away with three first-round picks to stock its rebuild. LeVert becomes an expiring trade chip or a rotation guard. Robinson keeps shooting threes and could be moved later. Not a haul that changes the franchise overnight, but solid return for a guy they just got in the Giannis deal.
Detroit’s starting five would look something like Cunningham, Herro, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, and Jalen Duren. That’s a lineup with shooting, defense on the wings, and young guys who should keep getting better. If the Pistons extend Herro beyond this season, they’ve got a core locked in for years.
Neither team has confirmed any talks. But the pieces fit. And in a league where star trades tend to create chain reactions, this one seems like it’s just waiting to happen.
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