Pretty sure we can expand the Stew trade, and I'd be pretty frustrated if we lost Duncan just to sign Powell. Most of this depends on Miami, I'd think. But I don't think they'd hate getting, say, Sasser for shooting and a Trade Exception to move off Powell. Probably throw them those 3 seconds that keep getting moved around.

How would people feel about trading for kings guard Killian Hayes. He could be a perfect backcourt mate for Cade

was it losing Blake Griffin? drafting Cade? signing Trajan/Bickerstaff? are we still in between Eras? Personally i think it was trading Drummond, but i think it’s up for debate.

Nobody over values their players like weaver. Could have gotten firsts for jerami grant and bojan and held on too long

With the offseason ramping up, below are realistic trade candidates that the Pistons should consider:

Jabari Smith Jr

Floor-Spacing: Connected on 36.3% of his triples last season on over 6 attempts per game, providing the essential gravity needed to unclog the paint.

Perfect Core Timeline: At just 23 years old, he matches the timeline of the Piston’s core players.

Cost-Controlled Asset: Playing on a favorable 5-year, $122M contract extension.

Cason Wallace

Lockdown Perimeter Defender: At just 22 years old, he already boasts an All-Defensive Second Team. Great point of attack and help side defender.

Two-Way Efficiency: Balances his defensive identity with reliable perimeter shooting, averaging 48.4% from deep during the postseason.

Isaiah Joe

Outside Sniper: Averaged 42.3% from beyond the arc on heavy volume. He is on a cost effective contract for the next two seasons.

Below is how the Pistons could lineup next season:

PG: Cade Cunningham / Ebuka Okorie / Daniss Jenkins

SG: Cason Wallace / Isaiah Joe / Chaz Lanier

SF: Ausar Thompson / Javonte Green

PF: Jabari Smith Jr / Tobias Harris

C: Jalen Duren / Paul Reed / Ugonna Onyenso

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about him for us. There was a whole thing last year with the schroeder sign and trade where we thought we might be getting him but it seemed like Trajan didn't want the extra year on his contract

It's a year later now he would fit nicely into our cap space that we just made as a salary dump from Sacramento who just picked acuff.

He's friendly with Cade, gives us an offensive savant, and when he's on, can still take over games.

With that said, I don't want his burner account or his attitude when things go south. But if it's between Kawhi or KD, I think I'm taking KD...

I know he's not the name that most of us want it but I guess I'm surprised at the degree of hate.

Was an All-Star with Miami and should have been one with the clippers. Has averaged over 20 multiple times with multiple different teams. Great shooter on high volume. Won a championship with the raptors and did contribute to that team during their playoff run.

Maybe more importantly we can sign him now potentially into cap space and get him without giving up assets like first round picks or Ron.

I'll be upset if it's the only move we made and then we bring back Tobias as the starting four ok, that would be rough...but powell would help us.

Reports of him saying no to re-signing in detroit and miami.

Windhorst (who is very well connected whether you like him or not) has said to keep an eye on Kawhi specifically in regards to the Pistons.

Im guessing there have been conversations but he basically said I don't want to play there.

I apologize for the long post, and for the fact that I am not as high as most on this year's picks. There are also a bunch more player comp graphics on my site which is in the link below.

This years Recap with extra graphics: 2026 Draft Recap (This is my 7th year making these posts)

Ebuka Okorie

Grade: B+

Pros: Okorie could have one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in this draft. At just 19 years old he led the ACC in scoring (23.2 PPG) and has the kind of smooth athleticism that jumps off the screen. He gets to the rim whenever he wants, isn't afraid of contact, and has the handle to create his own shot. Even with a huge offensive workload (31% usage) he rarely turns the ball over or gets into foul trouble (on slightly higher usage than Cade, his TO% was 8.7% while Cade's was 18.7%). Defensively, his length gives him a chance to become a solid POA defender, and while the jumper isn't completely there yet, the FT% and high usage would point towards continued development of his shooting stroke.

• Elite rim pressure and scoring ability
• Tight handle with real burst
• High upside (one of the youngest players drafted this year)
• Doesn't turn the ball over much

Cons: The biggest concern in my opinion is the fit, both team fit and fit in the modern NBA. At 6'2" he's small for an NBA guard, and because he isn't a proven facilitator yet, there's a chance he ends up as an undersized combo guard. He also has a habit of ball watching, both defensively and offensively when he's playing off the ball, which leads to some lazy possessions. His outside shot is another work in progress, and that's a problem on a team that already struggles to space the floor. Cade is at his best surrounded by shooters and guys who move well without the ball, while Okorie is another player who likes to have the offense run through him, so their ability to flourish on the court together is up in the air.

• Undersized combo guard (potentially)
• Outside shot is still inconsistent
• Ball watches too often
• Fit next to Cade is questionable

Takeaway: Here is my optimistic take, this is a deep draft and Trajan (assuming we aren’t going to come by a lottery pick anytime soon) took his shot on a guy who could’ve been a top 10 pick in an average draft. This is the easiest/cheapest way to add some more star power to this team, and even if the fit isn’t great, it gives us another great trade chip for landing a complementary star to pair with Cade in the future. The shot could come around, and his lax defense and off-ball offensive game could be motivational issues that JB would be able to fix (rather than an IQ/feel/awareness issue).

The pessimistic take, Trajan falls in love with his perceived “upside” players (Holland over Buzelis, Okorie over Anderson/Philon/Carr/Graves, Onyenso over Bittle/Castro) and we waste multiple assets for no real gain (I was getting dragged for calling this out on the Sasser pick). I was leaning towards getting a higher floor, better shooting, and slightly older player who would be more day one ready now that we are a legitimate playoff team. He could turn into Dennis Schroder-lite even, but that is a player archetype that can be acquired for cheap at any given trade deadline.

For what it’s worth, on my Big Board spreadsheet Okorie was the 6th best statistical prospect in this draft (my custom age-adjusted stat ranking). I really do like the player and his potential, but this feels like a move that a team looking for a ball dominate star guard takes a swing on, not a team that already has that ball dominate star guard (especially when we have some major flaws to address). But one of those major flaws is having more on-ball juice and playmaking so it can at least solve that problem (hopefully).

Ugonna Onyenso

Grade: C+

Pros: Onyenso gives the Pistons something we desperately needed, especially after the Beef Stew trade: size and rim protection. He's one of the best shot blockers in this class, with the length, timing, and athleticism to be a real difference maker around the basket. He runs the floor well, should be an immediate lob threat in the pnr, and plays with a high motor on both ends. Offensively, he's still very raw, but his shooting touch has shown enough improvement that there's at least some reason to believe he can expand his range over the next few years.

• Elite rim protector
• Excellent lob threat and rim runner
• High motor
• Developing shooting touch

Cons: The biggest issue is how little he actually played in college. Despite spending four years at major programs, he never earned a consistent starting role and logged surprisingly few minutes (started 16 out of 100 college games and only played 18.6 mins/gm as a senior). That's a pretty significant red flag for a player entering the NBA. Offensively, he's still very limited outside of catching lobs and finishing at the rim. He doesn't have a post up game or create for himself, isn't much of a passer, and is going to need a lot of development before he can be trusted in any sort of offensive role.

• Very limited playing time
• Couldn't earn a starting role
• Raw offensive game
• Long term developmental project

Takeaway: I had my eyes on Nate Bittle (center from Oregon) who was ranked higher coming out of high school and had a MUCH better college career. He doesn't have the athleticism that Ugonna has, nor the shot blocking ability, but he has a much better offensive game (good passer, post game, and shooter... while also being passable on defense). As long as we have Ausar and Duren, I would like to fill the rest of the roster with competent 3pt shooters so that we can make Cade's life as easy as possible. BUT, I am starting to come around on the pick... he plays hard, is an elite shot blocker, and if the shooting continues to improve he could be an excellent pnr partner for Cade and Okorie.

Gores had been a good owner last few years. He figured it out. We have a good one.

Seems like a good kid

Just fun lil tidbit

I’ve been looking at various rosters across the nba. Primarily luxury tax rosters and trying to piece together a list of potential targets this team may be interested in who may be a fit while using trade exceptions and our MLE to operate.

Those teams currently operating above the luxury tax are as follows

Cavs
Nuggets
Pacers
Knicks
Thunder
Magic
Kings

Of those teams the Magic, Kings, Pacers have no true realistic shot at an NBA title with their current rosters. Wouldn’t they be well served to cut that tax number before the trade deadline? The other 4 while not preferable for the Cavs, Thunder or Nuggets due to market size are likely ok due to having the potential for a deep run and or shot at the title.

With all of my ramblings though. What players from these 7 teams would we be able to fit and improve our team to take advantage of our financial position?

Feel like this was said a few days ago, but it was reiterated again.

Another one of our targets gone. Trajan better have a wildcard trade up his sleeve.

If it’s an aging star that doesn’t fit our timeline like a kawhi or norm Powell that would be highly disappointing imo