John Collins didn’t waste any time sizing up what his frontcourt partnership with Jalen Duren could look like for the Pistons.
After Detroit’s 128-106 preseason win over the Timberwolves at Target Center on Wednesday, Collins made it clear he sees the fit as simple and dangerous: let Duren attack the paint and everything else gets easier.
“It's gonna be fun. He's coming out, obviously, with a purpose tonight to do his thing. Just excited to get more reps with him and continue to play great basketball,” said Collins.
“Getting down into the paint, getting fouls, getting easy buckets at the rim, always makes our time easier on the court.”
Duren backed that up in his preseason debut. The 22-year-old delivered a game-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting in just 15 minutes, while also adding three rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block. For a player coming off a breakout campaign and looking to move on from an offseason contract standoff, it was exactly the kind of sharp start Detroit wanted to see.
John Collins on playing with Jalen Duren
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) October 15, 2026
“It’s gonna be fun. He’s coming out with a purpose tonight to do his thing. Just excited to get more reps with him.” pic.twitter.com/anVMdUQptI
Collins chipped in 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists in 20 minutes, and he’s looked lively early in his first season with the Pistons. The high-leaping forward has brought energy, toughness, and athleticism on both ends, giving Detroit another useful piece in the frontcourt.
He also recently got a reminder from Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors about stepping into the enforcer role after Isaiah Stewart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Detroit’s rotation is starting to take shape around Collins, Duren, Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, Paul Reed, Isaiah Joe, Kevin Huerter, and Daniss Jenkins as the Pistons try to hold onto the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
The preseason wraps up Friday against the Toronto Raptors.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have Found The Identity That Keeps This Team Rising
The Pistons spent the summer reinforcing the part of the roster that already gave them a clear edge, bringing in John Collins in free agency and keeping Jalen Duren in the fold. On paper, the fit is pretty straightforward: Collins at power forward, Duren at center, with both expected to help Detroit stay physical around the rim and give the offense extra chances on the glass.
Rebounding has already been a calling card for this team, and the idea here is less about starting over than doubling down on what works. If Collins and Duren can form the kind of frontcourt pairing Detroit envisioned, the Pistons may not just preserve that strength from last season, but turn it into one of the identity pieces that keeps the group moving up the standings. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]