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Moving on from last season’s second round playoff demise, the Detroit Pistons have infused their lineup with a wide range of three-point shooters during the offseason. After finishing in the middle of the pack for perimeter efficiency during the 2025-26 regular season, the Pistons set out to find more reliable long-range options, and it’s clear they’ve done that with John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris.
But apart from that objective, the squad has an undercurrent where it will be important to integrate new talent while retaining the hard-nosed culture and winning environment that was established by veterans like Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris. Both players were key in Detroit’s ascension over the last two seasons, and the Pistons need to properly transition toward their replacements.
At the center spot, Detroit drafted 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso during the second-round out of Virginia, but the expectation is for the big man to start out in the G-League and develop his game from there. So, that means the Pistons believe they can replace Beef Stew’s contributions in-house, thereby elevating the roles of both Paul Reed and Tolu Smith.
As for the latter, Smith made a collection of spot-appearances last year in the regular season with a nine-point, 14-rebound, four-block performance against the Los Angeles Clippers standing as the crown jewel of his effort.
“Tolu has proven to be a diligent worker,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “He’s dominated in the G-League for long stretches of time. He’s a physical presence. He can rebound. He can block shots. He gets deflections. He’s another guy, and credit to our front office, they found kind of in the rough, but he competed and I thought he was great tonight.”
Smith only featured in 15 games last year, though he was impactful during the little playing time he had, but the big man would have a lot more responsibility as the third-string center in Motown once Jalen Duren’s contract situation is sorted out. Either way, Smith will be counted on to contribute more, but that’s a step he’s prepared for.
”I just felt like when bodies are down, it's a next-man-up mentality,” Smith said after facing the Clippers. “I think our culture and our ability to just play with whoever we’ve got, we’ve got a group of dogs that are just willing to play. So, we’ve all got that winning mindset going out, and we’re going to keep doing it.”
If the Pistons can reach a long-term agreement with Duren, then B-Ball Paul would bump up to the second-string center role entering the season. The opening on the depth chart would be for the third-string with the main competition coming from Smith and Onyenso, though the returning big man looks to have an edge in the battle at this point in time.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage, but while you’re here, join Pistons Roundtable for FREE and become a contributing member to our community today. Also be sure to look up Roundtable - Michigan Men Media on Facebook for continued social media coverage of all the sporting teams in the Mitten.
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But apart from that objective, the squad has an undercurrent where it will be important to integrate new talent while retaining the hard-nosed culture and winning environment that was established by veterans like Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris. Both players were key in Detroit’s ascension over the last two seasons, and the Pistons need to properly transition toward their replacements.
At the center spot, Detroit drafted 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso during the second-round out of Virginia, but the expectation is for the big man to start out in the G-League and develop his game from there. So, that means the Pistons believe they can replace Beef Stew’s contributions in-house, thereby elevating the roles of both Paul Reed and Tolu Smith.
As for the latter, Smith made a collection of spot-appearances last year in the regular season with a nine-point, 14-rebound, four-block performance against the Los Angeles Clippers standing as the crown jewel of his effort.
“Tolu has proven to be a diligent worker,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “He’s dominated in the G-League for long stretches of time. He’s a physical presence. He can rebound. He can block shots. He gets deflections. He’s another guy, and credit to our front office, they found kind of in the rough, but he competed and I thought he was great tonight.”
Smith only featured in 15 games last year, though he was impactful during the little playing time he had, but the big man would have a lot more responsibility as the third-string center in Motown once Jalen Duren’s contract situation is sorted out. Either way, Smith will be counted on to contribute more, but that’s a step he’s prepared for.
”I just felt like when bodies are down, it's a next-man-up mentality,” Smith said after facing the Clippers. “I think our culture and our ability to just play with whoever we’ve got, we’ve got a group of dogs that are just willing to play. So, we’ve all got that winning mindset going out, and we’re going to keep doing it.”
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Detroit Pistons Rookie Ebuka Okorie Passed His Summer League TestAfter the Detroit Pistons made a trade to land Ebuka Okorie in the first-round of the 2026 NBA Draft, the former Stanford point guard represented himself well in the Summer League this yearIf the Pistons can reach a long-term agreement with Duren, then B-Ball Paul would bump up to the second-string center role entering the season. The opening on the depth chart would be for the third-string with the main competition coming from Smith and Onyenso, though the returning big man looks to have an edge in the battle at this point in time.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage, but while you’re here, join Pistons Roundtable for FREE and become a contributing member to our community today. Also be sure to look up Roundtable - Michigan Men Media on Facebook for continued social media coverage of all the sporting teams in the Mitten.
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