The Detroit Pistons’ offseason has been quiet enough that the conversation has mostly centered on what they didn’t do. But one of their most interesting moves for next season might not be a move at all. It’s Paul Reed, already on the roster and now positioned for a bigger role.
With Jalen Duren’s situation still part of the equation, Reed is penciled in as the backup center for next season. That matters because Detroit also moved on from Isaiah Stewart, a fan favorite whose rim protection and toughness the team will miss. What the Pistons may not miss nearly as much is Stewart’s offense, and that’s where Reed gives them something different.
Reed’s playoff run offered a glimpse of that upside. He barely played in the first series against Orlando while Stewart was still effectively handling the bench shot-blocking job. But after Stewart didn’t look fully right following his 8-block performance, Reed stepped into a bigger share of the minutes against Cleveland.
Against the Cavs, Reed averaged 11.4 points, five rebounds and an assist in just 13 minutes per game. That kind of production is hard to ignore, even if you can’t simply project it out over a bigger workload. It was still better than what Stewart gave Detroit on the season, and Stewart was playing more than 22 minutes a night.
The advanced numbers only sharpen the case. Reed’s Per-36 line was over 20 points, 11 rebounds, 4.3 assists and more than five combined stocks.
He’s not going to live anywhere near those numbers, but they do show how much he can tilt a game when he’s on the floor. Stewart’s per-36 production last season was far more ordinary.
In the regular season, Reed put up 7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and just under a block and steal per game in a little under 14 minutes. Stewart’s scoring and rebounding were basically the same, only in eight extra minutes per game.
The biggest question is whether Reed can stay out of foul trouble and do it consistently. Detroit already knows he can bring energy in short bursts. Now it needs to see whether he can be more than that.
Offensively, Reed gives the Pistons a lot more to work with. Stewart brought almost nothing beyond screens last season.
His defense helped create some transition chances, but in the half court he was barely a factor. Even with a jumper in his toolkit, he rarely threatened the rim, and his post game was still limited by fumbly hands and a lack of any real bag.
Reed is not a high flyer, but he has a crafty bag around the rim and will put the ball on the floor when defenders back off. He’s also a shifty passer who can slip the ball to a cutter. That’s the kind of touch and feel Stewart rarely showed.
He’s also a better offensive rebounder than Stewart, since both players averaged the same number last season even though Reed was on the court much less. And while Reed’s 3-point shot is ugly as sin, he’s willing to take it when it’s there, and that should show up more next season.
For a Pistons bench that needs a more versatile spark, Reed looks like the more exciting offensive option. He’s ready to prove he’s more than just a hustle guy.
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Isiah Thomas Just Explained Why The Pistons Tormented Jordan's Bulls
Isiah Thomas latest explanation of the Bad Boys era offered a clean reminder of why those Pistons teams were such a headache for Chicago. Detroit was never just trying to guard Michael Jordan straight up. The plan was to slow the game down, force double teams on Jordan and squeeze Scottie Pippens shot volume, all in an effort to knock the Bulls out of rhythm and make every possession feel heavier than it wanted to be.
The approach worked for a while, too, as Detroit kept finding ways to beat Chicago in those late-1980s playoff battles before the balance finally shifted. By 1991, Jordan had adjusted, taking fewer shots but making more of them, and the Bulls turned the tables on the Pistons on their way into a run that changed the leagues power structure. Thomas breakdown is a useful look back at how much of that rivalry was decided by tempo, patience and who could impose their style first. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Suddenly Face A Jalen Duren Decision They Cannot Get Wrong
The Pistons have reached the point where the Jalen Duren conversation is no longer just about upside. With contract questions and roster balance now part of the equation, Detroit has to weigh whether a sign-and-trade makes more sense than simply paying to keep the young center and sorting out the fit later. The problem is that the teams center depth is thin enough that any move involving Duren would immediately force another move behind it.
So the real issue is not just whether Duren is available, but whether Detroit can line up a credible starter before it ever entertains a deal. Daniel Gafford and Jarrett Allen are among the names that could enter the discussion, and New Orleans has been floated as a logical trade partner, though the Pelicans do not have an obvious quality center to send back. For the Pistons, this is the kind of decision that can shape the next phase of the roster if they get it right, or leave a hole they cannot easily patch. [Read more 🡒]