The Pistons won 60 games, grabbed the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and still walked away from last season with something of a credibility gap. Even after their Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, Detroit never quite drew the kind of fear teams usually earn at that level.
That’s the backdrop as the Sixers begin sizing up the East for 2026-27, and Detroit sits firmly in the danger zone. Philadelphia is preparing for a conference that looks loaded, and the Pistons remain one of the teams that can make life miserable if everything clicks.
Detroit’s offseason has brought a few notable changes. Tobias Harris, who had a strong second stint with the Pistons, is gone.
In his place comes John Collins, a more conventional big man who doesn’t bring the same experience but does offer a different look. The Pistons also added Isaiah Joe in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder at a very minor cost, and his shooting should matter for a team that struggled from deep.
The biggest unresolved piece is Jalen Duren. The 22-year-old center, who earned All-NBA recognition last season, is still a restricted free agent.
His regular season was excellent, but his playoff run was described as stunningly disappointing. Once Walker Kessler came off the board in a sign-and-trade from the Utah Jazz to the Los Angeles Lakers, Duren was left without a place in a crowded market.
The expectation, though, is that he’ll re-sign with Detroit in some way, shape or form.
There has also been movement in the frontcourt depth chart. Isaiah Stewart, long a symbol of Detroit’s physical identity, has been pushed out by former Sixers second-round pick Paul Reed, who is now officially ahead of him at center. Stewart was traded so the Pistons could move up in the first round and draft Ebuka Okorie, a ball-handler who can help replace the departed Caris LeVert.
The Pistons still look like a strong team on paper. They should be above average on both ends and remain firmly competitive.
But it’s fair to ask whether they are actually better than they were in 2025-26. Joe’s shooting should help right away, and Collins could give them a boost with his athleticism in the frontcourt.
Even so, the same old issue hangs over the roster: who besides Cade Cunningham is going to handle a meaningful playmaking load?
Until that question gets answered, Detroit may have a hard time generating enough offense when the games tighten up in the playoffs.
For the Sixers, the Detroit connection runs through two familiar names. Joe and Reed were both second-round picks by Philadelphia in 2020, and now they look like two of the most important reserves on the Pistons’ roster.
Reed has grown into an unquestionably elite backup center, bringing defensive playmaking, versatility, and offensive rebounding. Joe, meanwhile, gives Detroit the kind of steady high-volume three-point shooting it badly needed last season.
The Pistons were able to get him from Oklahoma City for just two distant second-round picks, a sharp move made possible by the Thunder’s financial squeeze.
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For the 76ers, that kind of setup is exactly what can sting in hindsight. Bassey has long looked like the sort of player whose value depends on minutes and trust, and Golden State may be the place where both finally arrive. If he settles into the Warriors rotation and becomes a dependable piece, Philadelphia will be left wondering whether it let a useful frontcourt option slip away too early. [Read more 🡒]
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For Philadelphia, the most interesting part may be less about the headline names than about where that leaves Tyrese Maxey in the pecking order. When a team adds two players with that kind of resume, the question becomes how the ball moves, who initiates, and how the group keeps its best players involved without losing the edge that made the roster so dangerous in the first place. The 76ers look built to contend, but the way those roles settle could end up being just as important as the talent itself. [Read more 🡒]
VJ Edgecombe Just Sent The 76ers Message Fans Wanted
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Edgecombes answer was simple enough: he plans to stay aggressive offensively no matter how the minutes or shot chances break down. That mindset matters for Philadelphia, which is expected to manage his usage and lineup fits carefully so he can contribute alongside the stars instead of disappearing next to them. For a young player trying to prove he belongs, the challenge now is less about role anxiety and more about making sure his confidence travels with the changing roster around him. [Read more 🡒]