The Detroit Pistons are making moves this offseason, positioning themselves as a team to watch as they build around their star player, Cade Cunningham. With a focus on enhancing their depth, the Pistons face significant decisions, particularly concerning All-Star big man Jalen Duren, potential trade scenarios, and the ever-present need to add experienced veterans and shooting threats to their roster.
In a recent development, the Pistons have made a strategic acquisition by securing Isaiah Joe from the Oklahoma City Thunder. This deal involved sending two second-round picks to the Thunder, a team that has been actively reshuffling its roster.
Joe, known for his exceptional three-point shooting, spent four seasons with the Thunder after joining them in the 2022-23 season following his release from the Philadelphia 76ers. His shooting prowess was evident as he consistently averaged over 40 percent from beyond the arc, with his most recent season marking a career-high of 42.3 percent.
Detroit's acquisition of Joe is a notable offseason gain, especially considering the Raptors' missed opportunity to add such a shooter to their lineup. Joe's contract, a four-year, $48 million extension signed in 2024, translates to an average annual salary of about $12 million. This move not only provides the Pistons with a reliable shooter at a reasonable cost but also offers the Thunder some much-needed cap relief following their trade of Aaron Wiggins.
The Raptors, meanwhile, are acutely aware of the importance of perimeter shooting, particularly as they work to improve spacing around Scottie Barnes and their core players. While Toronto had been identified as a potential suitor to assist the Thunder with their cap situation, they ultimately missed out on acquiring Joe. His consistent shooting could have been a valuable asset for the Raptors, especially considering their promising performance in the 2025-26 season.
For the Pistons, adding Joe is a strategic move that bolsters their roster with a proven shooting talent, aligning with the league-wide emphasis on three-point depth. As the offseason progresses, Detroit continues to shape its team with an eye on competing at a high level, while teams like the Raptors reflect on missed opportunities and the financial constraints that impact their flexibility in making similar moves.
In Other News...
Raptors Center Search Just Hit Another Frustrating Free Agency Wall
The Raptors search for help at center has led them to Jock Landale, but getting into the mix may be the easy part. Toronto is among the teams showing interest in the big man as free agency opens, and that puts him squarely on the radar for a club still trying to strengthen its frontcourt without overcommitting to the wrong fit.
What makes this pursuit tricky is the market around Landale, which looks busy and expensive. Multiple contenders are expected to be in the hunt, and the price is trending beyond the bi-annual exception, leaving Toronto to weigh whether it can keep pace if the bidding gets serious or if another team simply has a cleaner path to land a center upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Are Back In A Kawhi Reunion Story Nobody Saw Coming
The idea of a Kawhi Leonard reunion in Toronto is the kind of rumor that instantly pulls the franchises past back into the present, even if it is still living mostly in the realm of inquiries rather than actual negotiations. The Clippers have been fielding calls from teams that include the Raptors and Mavericks, but they have not started any trade discussions of their own, which keeps this in the category of a possibility rather than a pursuit.
For Toronto, the appeal is obvious: Leonard remains one of the most consequential names in the league, and any opening around him will naturally draw attention. Still, the Clippers are exploring what a deal would look like if they ever moved forward, and the pieces they would want are the sort of young assets that can shape a future, not just the headline-grabbing names that generate the buzz. Leonard and the team continue to communicate about his future, and there is no sign from his side that he is pushing toward an exit. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Fans Suddenly Face A Tough Kawhi Reunion Question
Kawhi Leonards name is back in the mix around Toronto, and that alone is enough to stir old feelings across the fan base. The Raptors have shown conditional interest in a possible reunion with the former Finals MVP, who just finished a strong season with the Clippers and remains the player who helped deliver the franchises lone NBA championship.
The catch is the same one that tends to shadow any big-name pursuit: the price has to make sense. Toronto is hardly alone in the conversation, with the Spurs and Mavericks also linked to Leonard in trade talk, and the real question now is whether the Raptors would even be willing to go where a deal of this size would likely require them to go. [Read more 🡒]