The Detroit Pistons are sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference, and Monday night’s nail-biter win over the second-seeded Celtics only widened the gap. At 31-10, they’ve carved out a 5.5-game cushion in the standings, and we’re just reaching the halfway point of the season. But for all the buzz around their rise, don’t expect Detroit to go all-in at the trade deadline.
This isn’t a team looking to mortgage the future for a quick shot at glory. The front office has made it clear: they’re playing the long game.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Pistons are taking a page out of the 2023-24 Thunder’s playbook - a team that won 57 games but didn’t make a splashy move at the deadline. Instead, OKC made a modest deal for Gordon Hayward and helped facilitate Dallas’ trade for Daniel Gafford in exchange for a future pick swap.
The real fireworks came in the offseason, when they added Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso to fuel a deeper playoff push.
Detroit’s mindset is similar. They’re being methodical, not reactive.
They’ve got a $14 million trade exception from the Dennis Schröder deal, and while they could use it to absorb a contract or snag a future first-round pick, they’re not chasing the “missing piece” just yet. The goal right now?
Let this core show what it’s made of - or what it’s not - when the postseason lights come on.
There’s also a financial layer to this. Jalen Duren is due for a new contract in the 2026 offseason when he hits restricted free agency, and any move the Pistons make now has to fit into that long-term cap picture. This isn’t just about this year’s playoff run - it’s about building a sustainable contender.
But not everyone’s on board with the cautious approach. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps made it clear he’d like to see Detroit push a little harder, especially with a path to the Finals potentially opening up.
His take? The Pistons could use another ball-handler to ease the load on Cade Cunningham, and he floated a bold name: Kyrie Irving.
Now, let’s be real - Kyrie’s availability is a huge question mark. He’s still recovering from a torn ACL, and there’s been no indication that Dallas is looking to move him.
But in terms of skillset, Bontemps makes a compelling point. A healthy Kyrie, in a secondary scoring role next to Cade - similar to how he played alongside Luka Doncic or LeBron James - could be a game-changer for Detroit’s offense.
That said, it’s a long shot. So the question becomes: who else can step up?
Internally, Jaden Ivey is the obvious candidate. The former No. 5 overall pick looked poised for a breakout last season before a broken leg cut his year short in January.
He’s back this season, but his minutes and production have dipped - just 17.0 minutes and 8.4 points per game. That’s not exactly the leap the Pistons were hoping for, and it makes it tough to rely on him as the answer behind Cade in the backcourt.
Still, Detroit has options. They’ve got expiring contracts, all their future first-round picks, that $14 million trade exception, and plenty of room below the luxury tax. They’re in a position to explore upgrades - they just don’t feel the pressure to force one.
And Bontemps gets that. He’s not advocating for a panic move or a lopsided deal just to make headlines.
But he does believe that if the right piece - someone like Kyrie, if healthy - were to become available, the Pistons should be ready to strike. Because as good as Detroit’s been, their offense still might not be enough to go toe-to-toe with the league’s elite in a seven-game series.
So where does that leave us?
The Pistons are leading the East and playing like a team that belongs. But the front office is staying patient, keeping their eyes on both the present and the future.
They’re not chasing a quick fix - they’re building something lasting. Whether that includes a trade deadline move or not remains to be seen.
But here’s the real question: Should they be more aggressive? Is this the year to take a swing, even if it means some risk? Or is the smart play to stay the course and let this young core grow together?
And beyond the backcourt, are there other areas Detroit needs to shore up to make a real run at the Finals?
Let us know - because this Pistons team is for real, and how they handle the next few weeks could shape not just this season, but the next several to come.