The Pistons got a look at their center depth last night, and it came with a warning label.
With Jalen Duren sidelined by a hamstring injury against the Knicks, Paul Reed stepped in and handled the early stretch well enough. But once Reed ran into foul trouble, Detroit had to lean on rarely used backup Tolu Smith, and that’s when the problems really started.
Smith was on the floor for just six minutes, but that was enough to raise real questions about whether the Pistons can trust him in that third-center role. He picked up four fouls, committed a turnover, and struggled to do the basic things you need from a big man.
That wasn’t an isolated night, either. Smith has been rough every time he’s gotten into a game this season, and the issues keep showing up in the same places.
He has earned minutes with his rebounding and rim protection, at least in theory, but he hasn’t consistently delivered those things, either. Last night, he even gave up a rebound on a free throw.
And if he’s not controlling the glass or protecting the rim, there isn’t much left. Smith has been a negative on offense, with hands like frying pans and a habit of turning simple catches into problems. In three appearances so far, he’s fumbled lobs and easy passes in the lane, and every time someone throws him the ball, it looks like an adventure.
The Pistons do not have many clean alternatives. Duren is out, and Reed has a frustrating tendency to collect early fouls, which leaves Detroit thin in a hurry. Isaac Jones could get some spot minutes at center because he at least brings some NBA experience, even if his offensive game isn’t much more advanced than Smith’s.
John Collins is another possibility, but playing him at center has produced mixed results this season. It can help with spacing, but it also leaves the Pistons vulnerable on the boards when the other team has a true center out there.
The one concern with the Isaiah Stewart trade was always the lack of depth it left behind, especially with Reed serving as the third center last season and playing in more than 60 games. Now that issue looks much bigger.
If Smith ends up needing to handle that kind of workload, Detroit is in trouble. The Pistons were comfortable enough to believe he could fill the role, but after what he showed last night, they may need to find another answer.
In Other News...
Pistons First Loss Exposed An Offensive Problem Fans Know Too Well
The first loss of the season offered a pretty familiar reminder for Detroit: when the pace slows and the game turns into a grind, the offense still has to find answers. Against the Knicks, the Pistons were held to 97 points, and the issues showed up in the places that tend to matter most in tight games. The 3-point shooting never really caught up, the free throws did not provide much relief, and the half-court attack lost its flow after a solid opening quarter.
Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson ran into a defense that was clearly prepared to make every possession uncomfortable, while Detroit also had to navigate the night without two key players. For a team trying to build on an early surge, the loss was less about one bad shooting night than a broader reminder that the offense still has to prove it can create clean looks when the easy ones disappear. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Drew An Unexpected Message During Knicks Matchup
The Pistons had a little extra noise around them during their Oct. 27 matchup with the Knicks, as WWE Superstar Danhausen took to social media to show support for both sides. It was the kind of unexpected crossover moment that tends to pop up around New York sports, especially when the Knicks are on a stage early in the season and the attention spreads beyond the court.
New York wound up winning by 14 points to pick up its first victory of the 2026-27 season, leaving Detroit to sort through another night without much to show for it. Danhausens presence is a reminder of how the Knicks playoff run continues to linger in odd places, even if the connection didnt come with a ring the first time around. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face A Tough Charlotte Battle They Can't Lose On The Glass
The Pistons head into a back-to-back meeting with the Hornets at Little Caesars Arena knowing the matchup may turn on effort more than star power. Both teams are dealing with key absences, but they have still found ways to create extra possessions, and that makes the glass a central issue for Detroit on a night when every missed box-out could matter.
For the Pistons, the margin for error is thin because Charlotte has already shown it can survive and thrive through offensive rebounding. Detroit will need a sharper collective effort on the boards and a steadier defensive presence to keep the Hornets from turning second chances into the kind of points that can swing a game built on attrition. [Read more 🡒]