Isaiah Joe was supposed to be one of the cleanest fixes in Detroit’s offseason, the kind of addition that could sharpen the Pistons’ shooting and make their bench units harder to guard. Instead, his injury has left a hole that’s been easy to overlook and hard for the offense to replace.
The fit was obvious on paper. Joe came over after a season in Oklahoma City where he looked like a fearless, high-volume 3-point threat, launching 6 threes per game in just 21 minutes and knocking down 42% of them.
That kind of spacing can change the shape of an offense, especially when a team is trying to avoid long stretches of stagnation. Detroit just hasn’t gotten that version of him yet.
Joe has essentially appeared in only two games this season. He was hurt after playing just 4 minutes in the third game, and in those first two outings he put up 13 three-point attempts across 38 total minutes.
That’s an even higher attempt rate than he had with the Thunder, but the shots didn’t go down the same way. He made only 3 of those 13 tries.
The Pistons were banking on the idea that his percentage would settle back in once he found a rhythm, but the injury cut that process short.
That has forced Detroit to lean more heavily on Duncan Robinson for its shooting, and it’s pushed Robinson into a larger role than the team likely planned. The loss of Jalen Duren, who is usually the team’s second option, only adds to the strain.
When Joe gets back, the Pistons should have another real spacing weapon to pair with Robinson. That matters in lineups without Cade Cunningham as the creator, and it also gives Detroit a better answer on nights when Robinson’s jumper isn’t dropping. More shooters on the floor at once can change the math in a hurry.
But the bigger issue is what comes next. Detroit can keep collecting regular-season wins without Joe, but the team still needs to build comfort with him as a real part of the offense before the playoffs arrive. Last season made it clear how damaging the Pistons’ lack of spacing can be in the postseason, even with Robinson moving constantly.
Joe’s shooting should help solve that problem, but only if Detroit is willing to trust him when the game tightens up. In Oklahoma City, his playoff minutes often shrank because the Thunder had more depth and because he offered less versatility than some of his teammates. The Pistons don’t have that same cushion.
So for Detroit, the hope is simple: Joe gets healthy soon, and the team gets enough time to figure out how to use him before the games start to matter even more.
In Other News...
This Refs Pistons Pick Says Everything About That 2004 Team
Rasheed Wallace was never just another bruising big man on that 2004 Pistons team. Even years later, NBA referee Zach Zarba still points to Wallace as the toughest player to officiate, and the reason says plenty about how Detroit played and how Wallace operated inside it. He was smart, physical and always on the edge, the kind of player who could bend a games temperature without ever seeming surprised by the response.
What made Wallace such a problem for officials was not only his edge, but the way he used it. Zarba noted that Wallace would work technical fouls into his own routine as a way to fire himself up and lift the team around him, which fits a Pistons group that won with force and attitude as much as skill. Wallace, a 2004 champion and multiple-time All-Star, still owns the league record for technical fouls in a single season, a reminder of just how far that edge carried him. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Hot Start Has Fans Eyeing One Massive Backcourt Swing
Detroits 5-1 start has put the Pistons in an unfamiliar spot this early in the season, with the kind of momentum that naturally sends fans and front offices alike looking for the next move. One name now floating into the conversation is Kyrie Irving, with NBA insider Chris Mannix reporting that Detroit has interest in the veteran guard as the Mavericks weigh whether to move him for the right return.
Irving has been part of Dallas recent success since returning from an ACL injury, which only adds to the intrigue around any possible deal. For the Pistons, the appeal is obvious: a hot start can sharpen the focus on upgrading the backcourt, but a pursuit of a player with Irvings profile would also come with a steep price and plenty of moving parts still to sort through. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Suddenly Face A Real Kyrie Irving Dilemma
Kyrie Irvings strong return from an ACL injury has already put him back in the middle of leaguewide conversation, and not just because of the way he has looked on the floor. Sports Illustrateds Chris Mannix floated the idea that Irving could emerge as a major trade target during the season, with teams such as the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons mentioned as possible suitors if the opportunity ever opened up.
For Detroit, it is the kind of name that naturally gets attention because the Pistons are still looking to accelerate their rise and add proven talent to the mix. The Mavericks, meanwhile, continue to value Irvings leadership and influence, even as the speculation around his availability keeps building without any confirmation from the team that he is actually on the market. [Read more 🡒]