Isaiah Stewart’s strong start in Memphis hasn’t changed the Pistons’ view of the deal that sent him out the door.
Detroit is thin at center right now, but the bigger picture still points the same way: the Pistons do not appear to regret moving Stewart this summer. He has helped the Grizzlies jump out to a 5-0 start, yet the offensive growth Detroit wanted from him still hasn’t shown up. What Memphis has gotten is the version of Stewart everyone already knew well - tough, dependable, and effective in the areas he has always owned.
That’s been enough for him to matter right away in Memphis. Stewart has been a defensive anchor and a culture setter, the kind of player who can help shape a team’s identity.
It’s the same lane he filled in Detroit, especially over the last two seasons. But the Pistons have moved on from needing that exact skill set at center, and they’re comfortable using Paul Reed as their backup instead because he brings more offensive juice.
Stewart has also done what he usually does on the other end: finish plays. He has been a solid play finisher for the Grizzlies, just as he became during his time with the Pistons.
Through the early part of the season, he’s averaging about 10 points per game while shooting 60% from the field and 50% from three on 2 attempts per game. That efficiency jumps off the page, though the sample is still very small.
Most of those baskets have come with help from teammates, which fits the scouting report.
What Stewart still hasn’t shown is the kind of offensive expansion that would make Detroit second-guess itself. To really flip the script, he would need more self-creation or a major jump in shooting.
That hasn’t happened yet. The Pistons already knew he could finish easy short-roll chances and hit open threes at a decent clip, but he has not turned into a real threat outside those looks.
Detroit, meanwhile, is more interested in what its other young players are doing. Ausar Thompson has shown more aggression, and Paul Reed keeps adding scoring tricks to his game. Those developments matter more to the Pistons than Stewart’s early production in Memphis.
There was always a ceiling issue here, especially on offense. Stewart’s size and shaky decision-making made him a possible liability in the playoffs, where he can struggle to finish through contact on rolls or work around active perimeter defenders.
In the regular season, his offense can look perfectly serviceable, even impressive at times. But the Pistons saw enough to believe it wouldn’t translate well when the games tighten up.
They had already reached that conclusion before making the trade, and Stewart’s decline in last season’s playoffs only reinforced it. Unless he shows real improvement in the areas that matter most for postseason basketball, Detroit’s decision to move on from him will keep looking like the right one with Reed in the fold.
In Other News...
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Detroits defense did plenty of the heavy lifting, too, forcing 24 turnovers and blowing the game open with a 31-7 run in the third quarter. For a team that has been leaning on Cunningham early, Hollands offensive spark offered another encouraging sign as the Pistons continue to build momentum. [Read more 🡒]
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Now, with the trade deadline approaching, league chatter has started to circle back to the same need: shooting. Michael Porter Jr. has emerged in the speculation as the kind of name that would fit the Pistons search for a proven perimeter threat, but for now it remains just that, a rumor-driven possibility tied to what Detroit still wants to fix before the market closes. [Read more 🡒]
Cade Cunningham's Biggest Early Problem Isn't Going Away
Cade Cunningham has been carrying a heavier load early in the season, and the turnover numbers have come with it. Averaging four giveaways per game, he is among the league leaders in that category, a sign that the Pistons offense is asking him to do more while opponents are loading up on him and forcing tougher reads.
Some of the problem traces back to the injuries around him, which have made life harder for Detroits primary creator, but not all of it. The Pistons are counting on better team health and some coaching tweaks to ease the pressure, yet the biggest fix still has to come from Cunningham himself, because the ball security issues have not gone away on their own. [Read more 🡒]