The Pistons got a quick reminder in their first preseason game of what Isaiah Stewart brought to the floor - and what he left behind.
About five minutes into the game, Dillon Brooks and John Collins tangled in a small dust-up that immediately won Collins some points with Pistons fans. It was the kind of brief flare-up that ended with double technicals, but it stopped short of punches, a full blowup or any ejections.
That moment captured both sides of Stewart’s absence. Detroit will miss the edge he provided, but it also showed why his brand of chaos came with a cost.
Stewart was the closest thing the Pistons had to an enforcer in the modern game. He was the guy who stood up for teammates and never backed down, which was part of the team’s identity last season.
But he was more than just a hard-nosed presence. He was also one of the NBA’s best rim protectors, so reducing him to just the fights and scuffles misses the bigger picture.
There was also a worrying note on Stewart himself: he rolled his ankle in the first two minutes of his preseason debut, and the hope is that he’s okay.
Still, watching Collins grab at Brooks brought back a little of what Stewart gave Detroit in those moments when things got heated. It also brought back why the Pistons may be relieved not to have to deal with the constant threat of escalation every time tempers rose.
The tradeoff with Stewart was always there. For all the toughness and energy he supplied, he also piled up unnecessary technical fouls and too often got baited into retaliation. Once he built a reputation as someone willing to scrap, referees were quick to tee him up when he showed even a hint of frustration.
There were plenty of times when he would have been better off walking away. To his credit, he didn’t always bite, especially when teams kept coming at him. But there were also moments when the smarter move would have been simple: take the lead, keep the score in mind and let it go.
That’s the balancing act Detroit is left with. Stewart will be missed, no question. But so will the technicals, the suspensions and the unnecessary heat that sometimes came with him.
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Isaiah Stewarts Rough Memphis Start Says A Lot About Detroits Decision
Isaiah Stewarts move from Detroit to Memphis was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to see how his rugged game would translate in a new setting after the offseason trade. Instead, his first few minutes with the Grizzlies brought a familiar worry back into focus. Stewart has long played with the kind of physical edge that makes him valuable, but also the kind of style that invites questions about how long it can last when the games get heavier and the calendar gets longer.
The early setback in Memphis only sharpens the reason the Pistons were willing to move on. Detroit had concerns about whether Stewarts approach could survive the grind of a deep postseason push, and the new chapter opened with another reminder that durability is part of the evaluation. For a player whose edge has always been tied to his strength and activity, the bigger question now is whether that same identity can stay on the floor when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Trade That Felt Empty Suddenly Has Something To Prove
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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
The Pistons got a pretty clear look at John Collins edge early in the preseason opener against Phoenix, when he and Dillon Brooks got tangled up in a physical exchange that set the tone for a chippy night. Brooks was assessed a technical foul and Collins was hit with a flagrant 1, the kind of sequence that immediately catches attention in October even if it wont mean anything once the games start counting for real.
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 🡒]