Pistons are different, but have they gotten better in tougher East?
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After a flurry of transactions over the last month, the Pistons are different in ways both predictable and not. They’ve addressed their biggest need – outside shooting. They traded up in the first round of the draft to add one of its best ball-handlers, Ebuka Okorie, with the 17th overall pick.
But are the Pistons better? That remains to be seen.
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Langdon has been determined, but not desperate, to make a move. The Pistons will continue evaluating the trade market through the rest of the offseason and into next February’s 2027 trade deadline. But internal growth has been the main driver of the team’s rapid rise over the past two seasons.
As the roster stands now, it’ll take continued growth from Cunningham, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren
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Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference has gotten stronger at the top, and deeper, too. The Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors all made big splashes for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard, respectively. The defending champion New York Knicks largely have kept their roster intact, as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat the Pistons in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
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This offseason, the front office determined Stewart was a luxury on a team with needs elsewhere and a big extension for Duren on the horizon. They traded Stewart, and the remaining two years of his four-year, $60 million contract, to the Memphis Grizzlies in a salary clearing move.
Reed ended up being the best performer of the three in the second round
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The Pistons retained their defenders who created the most opposing turnovers – Thompson, Javonte Green, Ron Holland and Reed – while adding multiple strong shooters. Collins, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris (if he remains on the roster) all shot north of 40% from 3 last season, joining Duncan Robinson as players who are feared behind-the-arc.
It provides reason to believe the Pistons, even without adding a second star scorer, have a chance to be a better and more well-rounded team. According to Cleaning the Glass (which filters out garbage time), the Pistons ranked 29th in 3-point volume and 20th in 3-point percentage, yet ranked 10th in offensive rating as one of the league’s best teams in transition and generating shots at the rim.
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