After years stuck in the basement, the Detroit Pistons shocked the league by leaping from a miserable 14-win season to a 44-win campaign, locking up the No. 6 seed and pushing the New York Knicks to six hard-fought games in the first round. Who was mainly responsible for this improvement? Their All-Star point guard.
Cade Cunningham officially arrived as an elite NBA talent this year by earning his first All-Star selection and showing the poise of a future franchise cornerstone. He scored, facilitated, and proved that his floor game can translate under the bright lights of playoff basketball. But while the Pistons’ rebuild took a major step forward, it’s clear that Cade can’t do it alone if Detroit wants to take a step forward.
With cap space and young assets available, the Pistons are in a position to make a big move this summer. If GM Troy Weaver wants to seize this momentum, now is the time to swing for an All-Star running mate who can elevate Cunningham and put Detroit squarely in the East’s second tier alongside the likes of New York, who are just behind Boston and Cleveland.
And make no mistake: the names available this offseason are blockbuster-worthy. Here are 5 All-Star-caliber targets who could take the Pistons from promising to powerful.
1. Zion Williamson
Proposed Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, 2027 First-Round Pick (top-5 protected), 2027 Second-Round Pick, 2027 Second-Round Pick (via Milwaukee Bucks)
If the Pistons want to make the loudest splash of the summer, trading for Zion Williamson is their home run swing. Zion just averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on 56.7% shooting in 2024-25, reminding everyone why he was once billed as the league’s next unstoppable force.
Yes, injuries continue to cloud his long-term outlook because he only had 30 appearances this past season, but pairing a healthy Zion Williamson with Cade Cunningham would instantly form one of the most dynamic young duos in the East. Cunningham’s calm, controlled floor game would perfectly balance Zion’s violent rim attacks, giving Detroit a devastating inside-out punch.
For Detroit, this trade is about calculated risk. Giving up Jaden Ivey (17.6 PPG, 4.0 APG), who showed flashes but hasn’t fully clicked next to Cade, along with Tobias Harris’ expiring money ($26,634,146 next season before FA hits) and picks is the price for elite talent.
If Zion stays relatively healthy, Detroit could leap into the East’s top 4 conversation as soon as next season. The Pistons have been patient with their rebuild, but landing a 24-year-old former All-Star with MVP upside is exactly the kind of gamble a rising team needs to make.
2. Domantas Sabonis
Proposed Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Domantas Sabonis
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, 2025 First-Round Pick, 2027 First-Round Pick (top-5 protected)
Domantas Sabonis just wrapped up another monster season, averaging 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while finishing second in the NBA in total rebounds behind Ivica Zubac. His combination of bruising interior play and slick passing would mesh beautifully with Cade Cunningham’s perimeter game.
Not to mention, Sabonis also brings playoff experience and durability, two areas this young Pistons squad desperately needs to solidify if they want to take the next step. The cost is steep, Ivey, Harris, and two firsts, but Sabonis is a proven All-NBA caliber big man in his prime at age 29.
The Sacramento Kings might also be looking to start fresh after trading De’Aaron Fox and are hungry to cash in on their stars. The All-Star big man also reportedly has doubts about his future, so the time to act is now and Detroit could pounce.
Unlike some of the riskier targets, Sabonis has been a picture of health, playing 70 games this past season and logging heavy minutes as needed. With Jalen Duren still raw defensively and offensively limited, Sabonis would give Detroit a win-now center while allowing Duren to develop in a more focused role.
If the Kings decide to pivot after another disappointing NBA season, Detroit should pounce. Sabonis is the kind of interior hub that can elevate Cade and make the Pistons’ offense hum at a high level.
3. Lauri Markkanen
Proposed Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive: Sacramento Kings Receive: Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, 2025 First-Round Pick, 2027 First-Round Pick (top-5 protected)
Lauri Markkanen, at his best, is one of the NBA’s most talented forwards, despite an average season, posting 19.0 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 43.6% from deep this season. At 7 feet tall, Markkanen would give Cade Cunningham the perfect stretch-big partner because he can space the floor, attack mismatches, and score at all three levels.
For a Pistons team that often struggled with floor spacing around Cade, adding Markkanen would open up driving lanes and allow Cunningham to fully leverage his playmaking gifts. This pairing would scream modern NBA offense.
Detroit would need to part ways with Jaden Ivey and multiple picks, but Markkanen is still just 27 and fits perfectly within Cade’s timeline. His ability to toggle between the 3 and 4 positions would also provide lineup flexibility, especially alongside Duren or Isaiah Stewart in the frontcourt.
Utah is rumored to be listening to offers as they retool, and for Detroit, acquiring Markkanen would check every box: shooting, size, versatility, and playoff experience. It’s a win-now move that doesn’t mortgage the future, and with Cade ready to ascend, it might be the most seamless fit on this list.
4. Zach LaVine
Proposed Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Zach LaVine
Sacramento Kings Receive: Ron Holland, Tobias Harris, Simone Fontecchio, 2025 First-Round Pick, 2027 Second-Round Pick, 2027 Second-Round Pick (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Zach LaVine remains one of the league’s most explosive scoring guards when healthy, and despite dealing with a trade midseason, he still managed to put up 23.3 points per game this past season while shooting 44.6% from three. For the Pistons, adding LaVine would immediately take offensive pressure off Cade Cunningham and give Detroit a legitimate go-to scorer in late-game situations.
LaVine’s athleticism and shot creation would inject a much-needed jolt of firepower to an offense that ranked just 16th in offensive rating (115.0) during the regular season. Yes, LaVine’s hefty contract and durability are concerns, but with the Bulls ready to finally move on and Detroit flush with expiring contracts and picks, this is a deal that could get done.
The Pistons would be betting that a change of scenery reinvigorates LaVine, allowing him to thrive as a second option next to Cade rather than carrying the burden as a primary star. If healthy, LaVine’s three-level scoring and transition ability could help Detroit vault into the East’s top 5 mix.
5. Jerami Grant
Proposed Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Tobias Harris, Ron Holland, 2027 Second-Round Pick, 2027 Second-Round Pick (via Milwaukee Bucks)
A reunion with Jerami Grant might not generate as much national buzz, but it makes plenty of sense for a rising Pistons team. Grant quietly averaged 14.4 points and shot 36.5% from three this season in Portland, proving he can be an efficient, high-level scorer in a complementary role. Of course, his best individual season came with the Pistons in 2020-21 by posting 22.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
At 6’8″ with elite defensive versatility, Grant would slide perfectly next to Cade as a two-way wing who can take on tough defensive assignments while spacing the floor. Detroit knows what it’s getting, and with this version of the Pistons being far more competitive than when Grant last played there, the fit is even better now.
Grant’s salary is hefty ($32,000,001 and $34,206,898 over the next two seasons), but Detroit can absorb it with Harris’ expiring deal and still retain flexibility moving forward. Bringing in a battle-tested veteran like Grant would also help stabilize Detroit’s young locker room as they transition from rebuilding to contending.
