Isaiah Stewart’s first preseason run with Memphis barely got off the ground before the old concerns showed up again. Minutes into his debut, Stewart turned an ankle, a jolt that immediately dragged Detroit’s offseason decision back into focus after the Pistons moved on from him amid worries about both his attitude and his injury history.
For the Pistons, that history was never abstract. Stewart missed plenty of games over the last two seasons because of injuries and suspension, and the absences didn’t just show up in the regular season.
They tended to hit hardest when Detroit needed him most. In 2025, he played only one playoff game against the Knicks before a knee injury knocked him out.
Then in 2026, he was likely limited by another leg injury after Game 4 of the Orlando series.
That backdrop helps explain why Detroit has leaned so hard into availability in recent moves. Even with Stewart on a contract that carried good value, the Pistons still decided the risk was too much.
The question wasn’t just whether he could help in bursts. It was whether his game could survive the grind of a long playoff run without his body breaking down around him.
Stewart has never been short on effort. If anything, that’s part of the problem.
His game is built on force: constant physical play, hard dives at the rim, and fearless challenges on shots. Those moments can produce huge blocks and big energy swings, but they also put him in harm’s way when he lands awkwardly.
And that leaves Memphis with the same puzzle Detroit had. Stewart may get more chances to stretch the floor and take threes, which could ease some of the pounding that comes with living in the paint.
But his defense still depends on that edge. At just 6’8”, he doesn’t have much margin for error as a center, and he has to work harder for rebounds and absorb more contact on box outs.
There’s still a path for this to look different in Memphis. The ankle issue in the preseason opener might be nothing more than a one-off scare, and a change of scenery could help him reset. If conditioning and some small adjustments can keep him on the floor, Stewart could still put these recent injuries behind him.
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Pistons Trade That Felt Empty Suddenly Has Something To Prove
When the Pistons moved Jaden Ivey last season, the return did not immediately look like much for Detroit. The deal brought back a package built around future value, and for a team trying to reshape its depth and get more dependable production around its young core, there has been a real need for those pieces to start looking useful sooner rather than later.
One of the names worth tracking is Ebuka Okorie, a pick-swap selection who has flashed promise in preseason and given the front office at least a reason to keep watching. Kevin Huerter is also in the mix after getting through offseason surgery and looking ready to help as a versatile bench option, giving the Pistons a healthier, more experienced piece to lean on as they try to squeeze something tangible out of a trade that has not yet paid off in the obvious way. [Read more 🡒]
John Collins Already Brought An Edge Pistons Fans Will Notice
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Brooks later disputed the technical, while Collins made it clear he is ready for the kind of physical battles that come with an NBA season. For Detroit, that matters as much as the call itself. The Pistons are still sorting out how much toughness and bite they can consistently bring, and Collins already showed he is not going to shy away from that side of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face A Ron Holland Decision That Could Change His Value
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The choice also has a clear ripple effect on how Holland is valued around the league. Exercising the option would make him a more appealing trade piece because of the certainty it provides, while declining it would give Detroit more flexibility later even if it means heading toward a more complicated negotiation down the road. [Read more 🡒]