The Pistons didn’t enter this offseason with no intent of making a splash after going 60-22, finishing first in the East, and watching Cade Cunningham average 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9.9 assists, especially after Jalen Duren also became an All-NBA player at only 22 years old.
The front office reportedly looked into several major names, but couldn’t manage to land any big star in the market. Kawhi Leonard had no interest in signing an extension with Detroit if the Pistons traded for him, per Jake Fischer, which made exploring a trade far too risky. Dan Woike later listed Detroit among the teams prepared to make a competitive offer for Austin Reaves, but he ultimately agreed to a four-year contract with the Lakers.
Marc Stein also reported that the Pistons had expressed interest in Trey Murphy III, but negotiations never progressed because the Pelicans were asking for at least three first-round picks. Brett Siegel then reported that Detroit explored a three-team framework for Kevin Durant and that Durant had interest in playing alongside Cunningham, although nothing materialized in those discussions with the Rockets.
So, with the Pistons striking out on the main superstars after a sketchy postseason performance, the smarter alternative may be targeting somebody one level below them, especially if the Pistons can avoid emptying their entire collection of first-round picks.
These aren’t reported negotiations, but each framework gives the Pistons a different path forward after missing out on the stars they explored.
3. Tyler Herro
Detroit Pistons Receive: Tyler Herro
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter, Ron Holland II
The Pistons still need another proven scorer beside Cunningham, and Tyler Herro fixes that issue without paying the price of a top-15 player. Herro put up 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists last season while shooting 48.0% from the field, 37.8% from three, and 91.7% from the line, and he maintained that efficiency while taking 6.7 three-pointers per game. That combination of pull-up shooting, movement shooting, and secondary creation is exactly what the Pistons were missing when the Cavaliers loaded up on Cunningham during their seven-game second-round loss.
Herro would allow Cunningham to spend fewer possessions creating everything from the top, while Isaiah Joe and Thompson could handle more of the defensive work around them. The Pistons could run Herro through handoffs, use him as the second ball-handler in late-game pick-and-rolls, and finally have another guard who can score instead of immediately giving the ball back to Cade whenever the clock is ticking.
The salary matching is pretty simple because Herro is entering the final year of his contract at $33.0 million, while Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter and Ron Holland II combine for approximately $34.6 million. The Bucks are rebuilding after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, so converting an expiring Herro into a 21-year-old wing, two shooters, and more rotation depth would make sense, while the Pistons would be betting that Herro is worth another major contract next summer.
That next contract is the main risk, but Herro wouldn’t need to become the franchise player or carry the offense in every fourth quarter. He would only need to become the second perimeter scorer behind Cunningham, which is probably the best role for him on a serious playoff team.
2. Rudy Gobert
Detroit Pistons Receive: Rudy Gobert, 2032 first-round pick (top-five protected)
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Jalen Duren (sign-and-trade, four-year, $160.0 million contract), John Collins
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Ayo Dosunmu, Joan Beringer, 2030 second-round pick (via Minnesota), 2031 second-round pick (via Dallas)
This would easily be the most controversial idea because the Pistons would move a 22-year-old All-NBA big man for a 34-year-old defender, but the argument is completely based on what happens during the playoffs. Duren was completely underwhelming in both series, as the Cavaliers and Magic always found ways to eliminate the lob threat, and even targeted him on defense, which is just a pretty bad look for his extension desire, and he’s reportedly weighing taking his qualifying option and becoming a free agent in 2027.
Rudy Gobert isn’t perfect in every playoff matchup either, but he remains one of the league’s best defensive anchors and averaged 10.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 68.2% from the field last season. He would give Thompson permission to pressure the ball even harder, cover mistakes behind Cunningham, and make the Pistons much more comfortable using aggressive defensive coverages instead of constantly protecting the paint with extra help.
The offensive fit wouldn’t be that different because Cunningham already creates easy finishes for his big man, while Gobert wouldn’t arrive expecting post touches or isolation possessions. His job would be screening, rolling, rebounding, and finishing around the rim, which would keep the offense simple while raising the defensive floor of a team that already won 60 games.
The Timberwolves would consider it because Duren fits Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball’s timeline much better, while John Collins would fill their hole at power forward and provide another shooter around that backcourt. The Pistons receive the Wolves’ 2032 first-round pick because Duren is 12 years younger and would be signing a four-year deal worth around $160.0 million, while Gobert is owed $36.5 million next season and holds a $38.0 million player option for 2027-28.
Receiving Duren through a sign-and-trade would hard-cap the Wolves at the first apron, meaning Ayo Dosunmu and Joan Beringer would need to be redirected elsewhere to lower their payroll. The Grizzlies make sense as the third team because they are rebuilding, but they currently have only around $5.3 million in cap space, so they would first need to create approximately another $18.5 million, probably by moving Jerami Grant in a separate deal, before absorbing both contracts. The 2030 second-round pick from the Wolves and the 2031 second-round pick from the Mavericks would compensate them for becoming the financial bridge.
It would be complicated and emotionally brutal for the Pistons, but Gobert could make an elite defensive team even harder to score against, while the distant first-round pick would protect at least some of the long-term value lost by moving Duren.
1. Scoot Henderson
Detroit Pistons Receive: Scoot Henderson
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Kevin Huerter, 2031 second-round pick (via Dallas)
Scoot Henderson is the least proven player here, but he may also be the easiest target to acquire without touching the Pistons’ actual core. The Blazers now have Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, and Henderson fighting for guard minutes, and even coverage close to the team has questioned how that group can realistically stay together without somebody losing a major role.
Henderson averaged 14.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 41.8% from the field last season, then produced another uneven playoff run, so his value clearly isn’t where it was when he went third overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. That is exactly why the Pistons should call now rather than waiting for another season in which his minutes and confidence could disappear behind several established guards.
The Pistons wouldn’t be asking Henderson to replace Cunningham or become their next superstar, as his role would be much simpler: attack second units, push the pace, and keep the offense moving when Cade rests. His first step still creates rim pressure, and the Pistons have enough shooting now to give him better driving lanes than he has usually seen with the Blazers.
Kevin Huerter would give the Blazers a lower-usage shooter who fits much more naturally beside Morant or Lillard, as Portland is definitely a team to watch in the West for the upcoming season. Financially, Henderson’s $13.6 million salary and Huerter’s $9.5 million number are close enough for the Pistons to complete the trade under normal matching rules.
Scoot is obviously a gamble, but the Pistons can afford this type of gamble because the price doesn’t include Thompson, Duren, Holland, or a first-round pick. Herro is the best immediate scorer, and Gobert is the strongest win-now defender, but Henderson gives the Pistons another young creator at the lowest cost, which makes him the smartest target of the three.
