Isaiah Joe has settled into Detroit quickly, and the fit already feels easy enough that even the locals are making jokes about destiny.
Joe has been out around the city, taking in Tigers and Lions games and learning the spots to eat and spend time with family. Along the way, Pistons fans have started pointing to his name and treating it like a sign.
“It's like everywhere I go, they're like, ‘You know, you got a special name.’ I mean, it's my name, but they're like, ‘Yeah, you were meant to be here.’ So, you know, maybe it was meant to be,” Joe says with a smile.
The joke lands because of the obvious connection. Joe shares a name with two Detroit basketball legends, Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, and he laughs off the comparisons while taking in the attention.
Still, the conversation around Joe in Detroit is about more than the name on the back of his jersey. As the season gets closer, he’s focused on what he can actually bring to the roster.
“For me personally, I think I can bring that experience. I kind of know what it takes to build throughout the regular season so you can be successful in the postseason,” Joe explained.
He also sees the move as a strong basketball fit, not just a nice story. Joe said, “I think I'm in the best situation going from number one team to another number one team who's contending, who's got great aspirations.
Everybody's got the same goal in mind. That's always a good sign.
“There's no egos. We're here to achieve the same goal.
So I'm excited. I'm excited about the stuff that I can bring to the team, but also the stuff that I can learn from these guys.
I've learned a lot in my short time being here, so hopefully we can just, you know, keep that trend.
Joe continued about his role and what he wants to achieve: “I never want to be stagnant in my role. And whatever I can bring to the team, I'm always working on my game.
Those are two things that I've really been working on over the summer. Hopefully I can bring a lot of value in that way. Coming to this team, also maintaining the main thing: Being able to knock down [the] three consistently.”
That last part is the clearest reason Detroit wanted him. Joe shot 40% from three last season with the Thunder, and the Pistons need that kind of spacing after finishing 17th in long-range shooting last season at 35%.
So maybe the fans are onto something. Between the name, the fit and the shot-making, Joe landing in the Motor City does have a little bit of the feel of fate.
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Jalen Durens next move is now on the clock, and it has the potential to reshape the Pistons frontcourt sooner rather than later. Detroit has put the restricted free agent in position to choose between a $9.6 million qualifying offer and a larger deal, whether that comes from the Pistons or another suitor, with the decision hanging over the franchise as it weighs how to build around its young core.
Around the league, the kind of trade chatter that follows a situation like this has already started to take shape, with multi-team frameworks being floated as ways to create a clean outcome for Detroit and other interested clubs. Nothing official is in place yet, which leaves the Pistons staring at a deadline-driven crossroads and a frontcourt picture that could change quickly once Duren and his camp make their call. [Read more 🡒]