The Detroit Pistons spent the offseason chasing offense, and that search has not exactly been subtle. They checked in on Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Austin Reaves, trying to find a way to add more firepower to a team that prides itself on defense but still needs more consistency on the other end.
“The Pistons inquired about trading for Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant this offseason, according to league sources, and were positioned to offer Austin Reaves a big free agent contract if the Los Angeles Lakers opened the door. None of that materialized," ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill wrote.
Detroit still has work to do, especially with starting center Jalen Duren now sidelined by a hamstring strain. The injury is expected to keep him out for at least two more weeks.
“The Pistons say Jalen Duren will miss at least two more weeks due to a hamstring strain," The Stein Line’s Marc Stein posted.
With that backdrop, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale floated a three-team deal that would send Ron Holland and 2027 and 2029 first-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets, Kevin Huerter and 2029 and 2030 second-round picks to the Chicago Bulls, and Naz Reid to Detroit.
Favale made the case that the Pistons don’t need to keep waiting for a bigger sample size before addressing their long-term frontcourt needs.
“Detroit doesn’t have to wait on a larger sample with Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson to know it needs another long-term forward. John Collins is an imperfect, temporary answer.
Reid is a more permanent solution. He is in the heart of his prime at 27 years old.
His contract has him under team control through 2028-29 at less than 15 percent of the salary cap. (He holds a 2029-30 player option.),” Favale wrote.
For Detroit, Reid would bring exactly the kind of skill set the roster has been missing: a big man who can space the floor and fit as either a forward or center depending on how the team wants to deploy him. He would also give the Pistons another offensive piece to lean on as they try to build around Cade Cunningham.
The fit is easy to see. Reid is one of the best-shooting bigs in the league, and that kind of spacing would force defenses to think twice before loading up on Cunningham. If teams can’t cheat help his way as freely, the whole Pistons offense gets cleaner.
There’s also the contract angle. Reid would remain under team control for at least two more seasons after this year, giving Detroit a longer runway with a player who could matter when the games tighten up in the playoffs.
Things have reportedly not gone smoothly for him in Charlotte, as he has already been benched after failing to meet the team’s expectations.
In Other News...
Daniss Jenkins Is Giving The Pistons A Tough New Decision
Daniss Jenkins has turned a strong start into one of the more interesting roster questions facing Detroit. The guard has given the Pistons steady production, averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds while knocking down 43 percent of his 3-point attempts, and that kind of early impact tends to get noticed quickly in a league that is always looking for useful backcourt pieces.
The tricky part is what comes next. Jenkins is headed toward restricted free agency at seasons end, which gives Detroit control, but not necessarily an easy path to keeping him if the market gets involved or the cap picture tightens. The Pistons also have to weigh the progress of rookie Ebuka Okorie and the contract situation of Paul Reed, which means Jenkins rise may be forcing the front office to think several moves ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Already Have One Early Reason To Feel Better About Collins
The Pistons decision to swap Tobias Harris out and John Collins in at power forward already looks easier to understand in early-season context. Harris, now 34, still has not played this season because of a calf strain, and it has only sharpened the questions that were already hanging over his durability as Detroit weighed its options in free agency.
Collins was never just about talent for the Pistons, either. The appeal was always tied to his availability and the flexibility of his contract, even with the age concern that comes with adding another veteran. For a team trying to stabilize that spot, simply having a player on the floor has been a useful early reminder of why Detroit made the move. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Detroits strong 7-3 start has changed the conversation around the franchise in a hurry. With a healthy stash of draft capital and expiring contracts in hand, the Pistons are in position to be more than patient observers ahead of the Feb. 11 trade deadline. They have put themselves in the mix in the Eastern Conference, and the front office now has to weigh whether to keep building organically or use those assets to accelerate the timeline.
The need is fairly clear: secondary scoring and frontcourt depth would both help a team trying to keep pace with Boston and Philadelphia. Names such as John Collins, Duncan Robinson and Naz Reid have already surfaced as possible fits, which tells you the market is starting to take shape around Detroits needs. The bigger question is how aggressive the Pistons want to be, because the right move could help them chase the top of the standings, while the wrong one could cost them the flexibility that got them here. [Read more 🡒]