For years, Detroit’s shooting issues have been the loudest knock on the Pistons. This offseason, the front office started chipping away at it by bringing in John Collins, Isaiah Joe and Taurean Prince. And according to Bleacher Report’s latest list of the league’s top 30 shooters, the Pistons may already have more firepower than that narrative suggests.
Two Detroit players cracked the rankings: Cade Cunningham at No. 25 and Duncan Robinson at No. 14.
Cunningham’s inclusion raised some eyebrows because his raw shooting numbers aren’t exactly eye-popping, but the evaluation clearly weighed shot difficulty and usage as well. Robinson, meanwhile, was an easy call.
The odd man out, at least from a pure shooting standpoint, is Isaiah Joe. He didn’t make the list, even though he knocked down better than 42 percent of his 3-pointers last season while averaging six attempts per game. On straight shooting ability alone, he looks like he belongs.
That gives Detroit a case to make: Cunningham, Robinson and Joe could be viewed as three of the league’s better shooters, and Collins should add another layer of spacing. That kind of shot-making changes how the roster looks on paper and, eventually, how defenses have to treat it.
The Pistons may not be done adding. They’re expected to be part of the conversation around several more shooters as the trade deadline approaches. It’s too soon to say exactly what they’ll do, but with their payroll set to rise, this feels like a stretch where standing still may not be an option.
Detroit has already been tied to at least five players from Bleacher Report’s top-30 shooter list, and that doesn’t even include Lauri Markkanen, whose rumor connection the Jazz have already shut down.
The names that have come up are Trey Murphy III at No. 30, Cam Johnson at No.
23, Michael Porter Jr. at No. 20, Kyrie Irving at No. 12 and Kevin Durant at No.
- Some of those possibilities are clearly more realistic than others, but the thread running through all of them is the same: if the Pistons make a move, it could be for another elite shot maker.
If that happens, Robinson’s salary might have to be part of the equation. But the payoff could go beyond just adding more 3-point volume. Detroit might end up with a more versatile scorer who can do more than space the floor.
A roster weakness that’s been hanging over this team for a long time could end up looking a lot less threatening very quickly.
In Other News...
Hornets Suddenly Face A Tidjane Salaun Decision They Can't Dodge
The Hornets are heading toward roster cuts before the deadline, and Tidjane Salaun has become one of the names worth watching. The young forward flashed enough in preseason to keep some intrigue around him, but NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Charlotte may not see a clear path for him in its rotation plans. For a player still early in his NBA development, that puts him in a tricky spot as the Hornets sort through how to trim the roster while keeping an eye on future value.
Detroit is among the teams mentioned in the speculation around Salaun, along with Portland, as front offices weigh fit, upside and the cost of making a move. Nothing appears close, and the conversations remain hypothetical for now, but the fact that Salauns name is already circulating says plenty about where Charlotte stands. The Hornets seem to be deciding not just whether to keep him, but whether another team might be willing to bet on his potential instead. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Preseason Is Already Shaking Up Detroits Rotation Battle
Detroits preseason has already offered a clear glimpse at how the rotation could be taking shape, and Jalen Duren and Ron Holland II were among the biggest winners. Both looked ready to push for meaningful roles heading into the regular season, giving the Pistons some encouraging early signs as they sort through a deeper, more competitive roster. For a team trying to establish clarity before opening night, those kinds of performances matter.
Paul Reed and Daniss Jenkins are on the other side of the equation, fighting to make their case in a crowded mix of options. With competition tightening and their preseason showings leaving more to be desired, both are facing an uphill climb for steady minutes. The Pistons still have decisions to make, but the early battle is already pointing toward which players are helping themselves and which ones need a strong finish to stay in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Get One Last Preseason Test Their Defense Cant Fake
The Pistons get one more preseason look before the games start counting, and the challenge against Toronto should tell them plenty about where their defense really stands. The matchup brings a mix of size, shooting and versatility that can force Detroit to sort through coverages instead of relying on the clean looks and controlled pace of earlier exhibitions, with Jalen Duren, Duncan Robinson, John Collins and Cade Cunningham all likely to factor into the discussion.
Torontos starting lineup gives Detroit a useful stress test because it can create mismatches in a few different ways, which is exactly the kind of problem a preseason finale is supposed to surface. For the Pistons, the focus is less on the scoreboard than on whether they can manage those situations cleanly, keep rotations sharp and show they have answers when the opponent starts pulling their defense into uncomfortable spots. [Read more 🡒]