The Pistons have spent the offseason trying to patch holes around Cade Cunningham, but the big swing fans wanted still hasn’t arrived. Instead of landing the kind of headline-grabbing second option Detroit hoped for, Trajan Langdon has focused on strengthening the roster’s margins.
That approach has left plenty of frustration in its wake, though Detroit hasn’t exactly been sitting on its hands. The team has checked in on several major names, only to run into walls. The New Orleans Pelicans wouldn’t move off their steep price for Trey Murphy III, the Dallas Mavericks wouldn’t part with Kyrie Irving, and neither LeBron James nor Giannis Antetokounmpo had Detroit listed as a preferred destination.
One of the biggest letdowns came when the Toronto Raptors got in the way of Detroit’s pursuit of Kawhi Leonard, undercutting the Pistons on what looked like an ideal target. And now, according to the latest intel from NBA Insider Marc Stein, Toronto could be standing in the way again.
Stein reported that Detroit has considered making a run at free agent DeMar DeRozan, but the Raptors are once more in the mix. That puts the Pistons in another awkward spot, with Toronto potentially blocking them from a veteran scorer who could help fill a need.
Leonard would have been a clean fit in J.B. Bickerstaff’s system, but he made his preference clear: he only wanted to stay in Los Angeles or return to the Raptors or the San Antonio Spurs. Detroit was already fighting uphill there, especially with Leonard holding leverage because of his looming contract extension.
DeRozan is a different case. At least on paper, the Pistons would be on more even footing.
But Toronto’s presence could still be the difference-maker, especially with DeRozan’s history there. He spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Raptors, and the chance to go back to the place where it all started may be hard to turn down.
At 36, DeRozan is no longer the player he once was, but he’s coming off a solid year in Sacramento. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 49.7 % from the field and 32% from three. That’s not star-level production anymore, but it’s real production, and it gives him value as a veteran option.
He probably isn’t the perfect co-star next to Cunningham. Still, among the available choices, he may be the most affordable stopgap with the most upside.
And that’s what makes this so frustrating for Detroit. Even if some fans aren’t sold on DeRozan’s age or game at this stage, the Pistons could use his skill set. The problem is that Toronto may decide to close the door before Detroit even gets a real shot.
In Other News...
Pistons Defensive Identity Is Suddenly Facing A Real Threat
The Pistons earned the Easts defensive standard last season, but that status is going to be tested in a conference that looks deeper and more physical on that end of the floor. Detroit also made some notable roster changes, including the swap of Tobias Harris for John Collins, a move that feels more like a sideways shuffle defensively than a clear step forward.
The bigger issue may be whether the group can absorb the loss of its interior backbone and still look like the same disruptive unit night after night. Paul Reed is in position to take on a larger bench role, and the question now is whether Detroit can keep its edge while asking him to handle the kind of minutes that demand discipline and clean positioning. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Have Every Reason To Fear How Jalen Duren Talks End
The Thunders three-team deal this week was a reminder of how quickly the wrong contract can tighten a teams margin for error. By moving Lu Dort and picking up salary cap relief, Oklahoma City got itself under the NBAs second apron and avoided the kind of squeeze that can force hard choices later, including the need to part with useful players just to stay flexible.
That is the backdrop for Detroit as it negotiates with restricted free agent Jalen Duren. The Pistons have every reason to be careful here, because a deal that looks manageable now can become a problem fast in a league where cap rules punish even modest missteps. Detroit wants to keep building without painting itself into a corner, and the Duren talks are exactly the kind of test that can shape the next few seasons. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Could Finally Chase The Co-Star Cade Cunningham Needs
The next big swing for Detroit may not be about another role player so much as the kind of co-star Cade Cunningham can grow with. As the Pistons keep building around their franchise guard, the idea of chasing a second high-end piece has started to look less like wishful thinking and more like the sort of move that could define the rosters next stage, especially if the right opportunity opens up at the trade deadline.
Orlando is the team to watch in that conversation, with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero both emerging as the kind of names that could change Detroits ceiling if they ever became available. The Magics looming tax and apron pressure adds intrigue, but so do the durability questions attached to either target, which is why this kind of pursuit would come with both obvious upside and real risk for the Pistons. [Read more 🡒]