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Now that the 2026 NBA Finals have wrapped up with the New York Knicks as the current champs, the Detroit Pistons and the other 28 teams are all on equal-footing in the offseason as they try to make the right moves to reposition themselves for a shot at contention next year.
Even though Detroit went further (to the Eastern Conference Semifinals) than before with this group, more was expected after winning 60 games before reaching the playoffs. So, it’s up to Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon to pull the right strings through free agency, the draft and the trade market so that the squad can do more than just obtain the top seed next season.
“We have to look at everything and that’s what we’re going to do in trade and free agency, try to go give ourselves an opportunity but the other party has to be interested too,” Langdon said on Thursday. “What is the road we go down? I think that’s the tricky part is trying to balance everything but trying to find things that fit whereas other parties it has to be a trade that we feel is worthwhile. We’re not going to go out and give out too many assets for a player that we feel can– not having those assets down the road– hamper us in terms of making another move, so we’ll be very thoughtful and intentional in how we go about doing that like we always have been. We’re having internal thoughts and talks everyday right now the closer we get to that time.”
Of course, the draft is just days away and the Pistons have control over the 21st pick overall, but the last several days have brought on an Isaiah Stewart revelation that Pistons Roundtable has covered for quite some time now. Since Detroit is looking to improve their perimeter shooting over the offseason (while potentially finding a long-term answer at power forward), players like Trey Murphy III and Tyler Herro have risen to the forefront as legitimate targets for the Pistons, but they’re both assets that would not come cheaply.
As a result, the Pistons will likely have to consider if now is the time to flip the switch into win-now mode. Stewart was one of the NBA’s most feared shot-blockers a season ago, and Beef Stew also checks in as the longest-tenured Pistons at the moment. It’s more than fair to say Stewart resembles the heart and soul of this Detroit unit, so trading the shot-swatting big man would be a move that reverberates through the locker room on multiple levels.
But from a stylistic standpoint, the Pistons don’t intend to deviate from their defense-first track record too much this summer even if they’re forced to promote Paul Reed from his third-string center position in lieu of a potential Stewart trade.
“I still believe you’ve gotta defend to win championships,” Langdon said. “I think that’s critically important. Do you have to have enough offense? Sure, but I still believe you have to be one of the best defensive teams in the league to have a chance to win a championship because you’re just gonna have nights where the three-ball doesn’t fall, you just can’t find a rhythm as an offensive team, so the defense has to at least keep the game close for you to have a chance to find a rhythm offensively. But if it’s the other way around and you’re depending on offense and you can’t guard anybody, it’s going to be really hard when the ball isn’t falling.”
So, even if the Pistons are forced to trade Stewart in a deal that brings a secondary scorer or consistent long-range threat (ideally both) into the Motor City, do not expect for Detroit to start playing a fully different style of basketball. The Pistons have staked their identity on dominating the defensive side of the floor, and that’ll be a pillar of their approach when the 2026-27 campaign rolls around as well.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage. 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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Even though Detroit went further (to the Eastern Conference Semifinals) than before with this group, more was expected after winning 60 games before reaching the playoffs. So, it’s up to Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon to pull the right strings through free agency, the draft and the trade market so that the squad can do more than just obtain the top seed next season.
“We have to look at everything and that’s what we’re going to do in trade and free agency, try to go give ourselves an opportunity but the other party has to be interested too,” Langdon said on Thursday. “What is the road we go down? I think that’s the tricky part is trying to balance everything but trying to find things that fit whereas other parties it has to be a trade that we feel is worthwhile. We’re not going to go out and give out too many assets for a player that we feel can– not having those assets down the road– hamper us in terms of making another move, so we’ll be very thoughtful and intentional in how we go about doing that like we always have been. We’re having internal thoughts and talks everyday right now the closer we get to that time.”
Of course, the draft is just days away and the Pistons have control over the 21st pick overall, but the last several days have brought on an Isaiah Stewart revelation that Pistons Roundtable has covered for quite some time now. Since Detroit is looking to improve their perimeter shooting over the offseason (while potentially finding a long-term answer at power forward), players like Trey Murphy III and Tyler Herro have risen to the forefront as legitimate targets for the Pistons, but they’re both assets that would not come cheaply.
As a result, the Pistons will likely have to consider if now is the time to flip the switch into win-now mode. Stewart was one of the NBA’s most feared shot-blockers a season ago, and Beef Stew also checks in as the longest-tenured Pistons at the moment. It’s more than fair to say Stewart resembles the heart and soul of this Detroit unit, so trading the shot-swatting big man would be a move that reverberates through the locker room on multiple levels.
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NBA Draft: Why Arkansas Guard Meleek Thomas Makes Sense For Detroit Pistons At 21Last season, Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas shot 48.7% from three-point range during SEC play But from a stylistic standpoint, the Pistons don’t intend to deviate from their defense-first track record too much this summer even if they’re forced to promote Paul Reed from his third-string center position in lieu of a potential Stewart trade.
“I still believe you’ve gotta defend to win championships,” Langdon said. “I think that’s critically important. Do you have to have enough offense? Sure, but I still believe you have to be one of the best defensive teams in the league to have a chance to win a championship because you’re just gonna have nights where the three-ball doesn’t fall, you just can’t find a rhythm as an offensive team, so the defense has to at least keep the game close for you to have a chance to find a rhythm offensively. But if it’s the other way around and you’re depending on offense and you can’t guard anybody, it’s going to be really hard when the ball isn’t falling.”
So, even if the Pistons are forced to trade Stewart in a deal that brings a secondary scorer or consistent long-range threat (ideally both) into the Motor City, do not expect for Detroit to start playing a fully different style of basketball. The Pistons have staked their identity on dominating the defensive side of the floor, and that’ll be a pillar of their approach when the 2026-27 campaign rolls around as well.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage. 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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