The Pistons didn’t just move on from Isaiah Stewart this offseason - they made the bet that Paul Reed could absorb what Stewart brought on defense and then add a layer of offense Stewart simply doesn’t have.
So far, that bet is looking smart. Through two preseason games, Reed has already shown he can cause the same kind of chaos Detroit valued in Stewart, only by doing it a different way.
Stewart built his reputation by challenging everything at the rim. Reed leans more on quick hands, mobility and disruption, and that approach has its own appeal.
Reed’s defensive activity can change a possession in a hurry. He gets into passing lanes, digs at the ball on ball screens and comes away with more steals than Stewart because of it.
That doesn’t mean he can’t protect the paint, though. Last season, Reed averaged 2.3 steals and 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes, even in a limited role.
Stewart, meanwhile, posted 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes and was one of the league’s better shot blockers. The difference is in how the stops turn into offense: Reed’s steals are cleaner possession changes, and that can be especially valuable for fueling the Pistons’ fastbreak.
The real separator, though, is on the other end. Reed offers Detroit a lot more than Stewart did as a scorer and decision-maker.
He’s the better finisher at the rim and a more comfortable handler, which gives the Pistons more ways to attack when he’s on the floor. He has also flashed enough self-creation and passing off the bounce that there may be nights when he becomes Detroit’s best bench scoring option.
That matters even more now because the Pistons lost some creation over the offseason. With the center rotation thinner, Reed’s role may need to grow well beyond the 14 minutes per game he saw before. He’ll need to at least reach the 23 minutes per game Stewart logged last season, and maybe more since the third-string center is now Tolu Smith instead of Reed.
For Detroit, the upside is obvious. Stewart had stretches last season that made him look like the best backup big in the league, but Reed’s contract makes the new setup especially appealing. He’s set to make just $5.6 million this season, and if his production holds while his minutes rise, he could end up being one of the best values in the NBA.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have Found The Identity That Keeps This Team Rising
The Pistons spent the summer reinforcing the part of the roster that already gave them a clear edge, bringing in John Collins in free agency and keeping Jalen Duren in the fold. On paper, the fit is pretty straightforward: Collins at power forward, Duren at center, with both expected to help Detroit stay physical around the rim and give the offense extra chances on the glass.
Rebounding has already been a calling card for this team, and the idea here is less about starting over than doubling down on what works. If Collins and Duren can form the kind of frontcourt pairing Detroit envisioned, the Pistons may not just preserve that strength from last season, but turn it into one of the identity pieces that keeps the group moving up the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Kept Austin Reaves Away From A Team Desperate For Help
Detroits front office spent much of the offseason chasing ways to speed up its rebuild, and Austin Reaves was firmly on that radar before he chose to stay with the Lakers. The Pistons have already made some important commitments of their own, extending Ausar Thompson on a five-year contract and re-signing Jalen Duren after contract negotiations, but their interest in bigger names shows how aggressively they are looking to add talent around that young core.
The pursuit did not stop with Reaves, either. Detroit reportedly checked in on trade possibilities for Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant as it keeps searching for a move that can raise the ceiling of the roster, and the sense is the Pistons will keep pressing on major targets as they build for the future. For a team that has spent years trying to escape the leagues bottom tier, the willingness to keep swinging is becoming part of the identity. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Rotation Battle Is Getting Real Around Cade Cunningham
The early preseason minutes have already started to sort out some of the questions around Detroits second unit, and that is showing up in a few different ways. Ebuka Okorie has made a strong impression with his playmaking and scoring touch, capped by a game-winning layup against the Suns, while Paul Reed has spent time in the starting center spot and has given the Pistons steady production on the glass and around the rim.
Isaiah Joe has been the other name worth watching, even if the shot has not fallen in his first two games with Detroit. His track record suggests the shooting will come around, which is part of what makes this stretch interesting as the Pistons try to settle roles around Cade Cunningham. With preseason still leaving room for movement, these early looks may end up mattering more than they usually do. [Read more 🡒]