The Pistons are entering the season with a clear goal in front of them: take another step. After finishing as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year and then getting knocked out in the second round, Detroit made only a few modest moves over the summer. Still, one of those additions could end up mattering in a big way.
That move was bringing in John Collins in free agency, while the team also got Jalen Duren back in the final stretch of the offseason. The expectation now is that the two will form Detroit’s starting frontcourt at power forward and center, and Collins has already talked about how eager he is to line up next to another big man like Duren.
It’s an intriguing fit on paper, and the biggest reason is on the glass.
Detroit was already one of the NBA’s better rebounding teams last season, finishing eighth overall at 45.6 rebounds per game. What stood out even more was the work on the offensive boards, where the Pistons ranked third in the league at 13.1. The one area that left room for growth was defensive rebounding, where they landed 14th at 32.5.
Duren has already established himself as one of the stronger rebounding bigs in the league, especially when the ball comes off the rim on the offensive end. Putting him next to Collins gives Detroit another body who can help finish possessions and create extra ones.
Collins hasn’t been the same rebounder in recent years that he was early in his career, but that earlier version of him was built around double-doubles. If he gives Detroit anything close to that level again, it could be a major boost.
That matters because rebounding travels. It helps a team finish defensive stops, and it also generates extra chances on offense. For a Pistons team that doesn’t have a ton of shot creators beyond Cade Cunningham, that kind of edge could be huge.
There are plenty of questions elsewhere on the roster, but on the boards, Detroit may have found a straightforward answer. Offensive rebounding can help manufacture points when half-court creation gets sticky, and defensive rebounding can clean up possessions and lift the entire defense.
If Duren and Collins mesh the way Detroit hopes, that frontcourt pairing could be one of the team’s most valuable weapons next season.
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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 🡒]
Paul Reed Faces A Big Pistons Test Isaiah Stewart Never Did
The Pistons are asking Paul Reed to step into a bigger lane after moving on from Isaiah Stewart, and the appeal is easy to see. Reed has already shown he can make an impact on the defensive end with steals and blocks, while also giving Detroit more offensive versatility than Stewart typically did. For a team that values energy and versatility in its frontcourt, that makes Reed a compelling fit on paper.
What remains to be seen is whether the bigger workload can hold up once the minutes start stacking up. Reeds expanded role will be a real test of consistency, because the Pistons need more than flashes from him - they need steady production and reliable contributions over time. If he can sustain what he has shown, Detroits move away from Stewart could look a lot more worthwhile. [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 🡒]