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Over the last two years, the Detroit Pistons placed an immense amount of value in what 15-year NBA veteran Tobias Harris brought to the table, which is evidenced by the fact that the power forward started every regular season game that he was healthy for during that timespan.
To boil down Harris’ role with more specificity, the Pistons utilized his craftiness in the mid-range perhaps better than any other 30+ year old in the NBA. Last season, Harris connected on shot attempts of that nature at a 49.6% rate, which ranked No. 6 in the league for the 2025-26 campaign. When the Pistons needed to break out of an offensive slump with a key bucket, they often turned to Harrise, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff referred to the vet as the squad’s “safety blanket” on multiple occasions.
But during the offseason, the Pistons made the decision not to retain the unrestricted free agent for another go-around since he was unwilling to accept a two-year contract with only the first season standing as guaranteed, which would have given Detroit an ample amount of roster flexibility. So, the Pistons opted to move on from Harris and pursue another power forward, and that player turned out to be John Collins.
Although Collins signed for a similar Average Annual Value with only one guaranteed season out of three, the new Piston offers a completely different profile than that of Harris. Collins is obviously several years younger, but he also has quite a bit more above-the-rim athleticism at his disposal. As a result of that spring-loaded explosiveness, Collins should serve as a dangerous lob threat for Cade Cunningham, Ebuka Okorie and Daniss Jenkins all season long.
In addition to that highlight-reel leaping ability, Collins is also a much more proficient three-point shooter. Last season, Collins connected on long-range shots at a 40.6% rate for the Los Angeles Clippers, so he’s a markedly better shooter from distance when compared to Harris as well.
On the flip side, Collins only grabbed just over five rebounds per game while in LA after snagging over eight boards in each of the two seasons prior to that, so he can be effective in cleaning the glass when put in the right situation. Now, Harris was never considered a master when it came to stacking up rebounds, but it was a requirement that he had to fulfill while in the Motor City.
In terms of his defense, Collins averaged 1.6 stocks per game a year ago, so his defensive aptitude is up to par with that the Pistons expect, so he should be a good fit in that respect once the season kicks off in Detroit. But overall, Collins represents a completely different style of power forward as a stretch four who can attack both above the rim and from beyond the arc, so the Pistons will have a few new weapons at their disposal in the starting lineup moving forward.
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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To boil down Harris’ role with more specificity, the Pistons utilized his craftiness in the mid-range perhaps better than any other 30+ year old in the NBA. Last season, Harris connected on shot attempts of that nature at a 49.6% rate, which ranked No. 6 in the league for the 2025-26 campaign. When the Pistons needed to break out of an offensive slump with a key bucket, they often turned to Harrise, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff referred to the vet as the squad’s “safety blanket” on multiple occasions.
But during the offseason, the Pistons made the decision not to retain the unrestricted free agent for another go-around since he was unwilling to accept a two-year contract with only the first season standing as guaranteed, which would have given Detroit an ample amount of roster flexibility. So, the Pistons opted to move on from Harris and pursue another power forward, and that player turned out to be John Collins.
Although Collins signed for a similar Average Annual Value with only one guaranteed season out of three, the new Piston offers a completely different profile than that of Harris. Collins is obviously several years younger, but he also has quite a bit more above-the-rim athleticism at his disposal. As a result of that spring-loaded explosiveness, Collins should serve as a dangerous lob threat for Cade Cunningham, Ebuka Okorie and Daniss Jenkins all season long.
In addition to that highlight-reel leaping ability, Collins is also a much more proficient three-point shooter. Last season, Collins connected on long-range shots at a 40.6% rate for the Los Angeles Clippers, so he’s a markedly better shooter from distance when compared to Harris as well.
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NBA Summer League: Detroit Pistons’ Okorie, Onyenso Showcase Defensive QualityThe Detroit Pistons’ rookies both put their defensive tools on display during the five-game Summer League series out in Las VegasOn the flip side, Collins only grabbed just over five rebounds per game while in LA after snagging over eight boards in each of the two seasons prior to that, so he can be effective in cleaning the glass when put in the right situation. Now, Harris was never considered a master when it came to stacking up rebounds, but it was a requirement that he had to fulfill while in the Motor City.
In terms of his defense, Collins averaged 1.6 stocks per game a year ago, so his defensive aptitude is up to par with that the Pistons expect, so he should be a good fit in that respect once the season kicks off in Detroit. But overall, Collins represents a completely different style of power forward as a stretch four who can attack both above the rim and from beyond the arc, so the Pistons will have a few new weapons at their disposal in the starting lineup moving forward.
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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