The Detroit Pistons will be heading into the 2025-26 season as one of the most intriguing young teams in the league. Led by a rising star in Cade Cunningham, Detroit has shown all the makings of becoming a perennial playoff team, a major accomplishment for a franchise that had gone through a significant rough patch.
After a sixth-place finish in the regular season last year, the Pistons managed to secure their first playoff win since 2008 before falling to the Knicks in six games.
With the Eastern Conference being weakened due to injuries, the Pistons could be viewed as a solid team to secure a playoff berth. But as a fringe team, the franchise still needs to make some moves to establish itself as a powerhouse.
To do so, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley presented a trade idea between the Pistons and the Miami Heat, allowing Detroit to acquire Heat All-Star Tyler Herro. Here’s the trade package:
Proposed Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic
Miami Heat Receive: Tobias Harris, Ron Holland II, 2026 first-round pick (lottery-protected), 2030 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick (swap)
Buckley’s proposal goes well beyond transforming the Pistons into a powerhouse, as it potentially sees them emerge as contenders in the East. While it certainly has its shortcomings, the idea also has merit.
For Detroit, the acquisition of Tyler Herro and Nikola Jovic would be immense. Given the performance Herro had last season and the development of Jovic over the course of the offseason, the Pistons would be getting two incredibly talented players to fill out their roster.
Herro’s addition would effectively relegate Jaden Ivey to the bench, in turn pairing Cunningham with an All-Star in the starting backcourt. The Heat guard made huge strides in growth last season, developing as a scorer and playmaker.
Herro posted an average of 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game last season. Additionally, he logged shooting splits of 47.2% from the field, 37.5% from three-point range, and 87.8% from the free-throw line.
The 25-year-old embraced the role of the primary facilitator for the Heat, routinely taking over the offensive duties. In doing so, he grew in stature.
On the Pistons, with Cunningham acting as the primary playmaker, Herro may find himself playing in a more off-ball role. But this would allow him to be the beneficiary of more looks in catch-and-shoot situations, potentially helping the guard notch an increase in his shooting efficiency and scoring figures.
With a legitimate scoring threat next to him, the Pistons’ star would also become more lethal. In a symbiotic relationship that helps both players shine, Detroit could feature a deadly backcourt tandem.
Meanwhile, the acquisition of Jovic is also solid for Detroit’s rotation. While the Pistons would have some flexibility with utilizing the young Heat forward, injecting him into the starting rotation could see Detroit’s offensive potential increase.
As a capable stretch forward with an improving offensive skill set, Jovic could be a solid contributor to the team’s efforts. Last season, the 22-year-old posted an average of 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds, while shooting 45.6% from the field and 37.1% from beyond the arc.
Given his recent displays at EuroBasket, Jovic has shown tangible growth as an offensive threat. In a more relevant role, he could be a vital element in Detroit’s rotation.
The addition of Herro and Jovic has major implications for the Pistons’ depth and scoring. With both players effectively improving the team’s performance, Detroit would be primed to emerge as a contender in the East.
It is evident that this trade caters to the Pistons, but the Heat also stand to gain something from this trade.
Parting ways with Herro would signal a reset for Miami. This would also be a logical deduction to make when looking at the assets they receive in return.
The two first-round picks and a first-round pick swap are by far the most valuable pieces for the Heat. Upon entering a rebuild, these will be crucial in acquiring young talent or trading for a second star next to Bam Adebayo.
In terms of player assets, Miami acquires a capable veteran and a promising young forward. Tobias Harris and Ron Holland II are solid players, but they won’t necessarily move the needle and make them a more competitive team.
Last season, Harris posted an average of 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.7% from the field and 34.5% from beyond the arc. While these are serviceable numbers, they may not contribute to winning as much.
Instead, Harris brings value as an expiring contract. In the final year of his deal, worth $26.6 million, the Heat could look to clear up a significant amount of cap space, helping them make a run at signing a superstar free agent.
Meanwhile, Holland has proven himself to be a valuable asset on defense. His defensive instincts, elite athleticism, and ability to run the floor in transition position him as a high upside acquisition.
Last season, he recorded an average of 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. While his shooting has been viewed as a shortcoming, the 20-year-old could certainly be worth developing as a flexible wing defender.
From a developmental point of view, the Heat could look to build upon these assets and eventually emerge as a competitive team again. But this may not be the team’s outlook.
Why Miami Likely Says No
The Miami Heat are an organization geared to contend for the title. Although they may have poor performances, Miami doesn’t typically go into a rebuild. With this concept in mind, the team may be against the idea of this trade right away.
While there have been recent rumors about a potential trade for Tyler Herro, primarily due to his upcoming contract extension, the Heat are unlikely to engage in a trade right now. Given how important Herro has become to the franchise and the fan base, Miami has made a conscious effort to acquire talent to support its core and help it contend.
The Heat are expected to be a dark horse in the East next season. Having made some solid additions to its roster in the offseason, Miami could very realistically challenge some teams at the top. In this regard, trading players from their main rotation would prove to be counterintuitive.
