30 teams, 30 days: Detroit Pistons | 2026 Season Preview

Welcome to my 30 teams in 30 days series, the most comprehensive and informative previews for every team in the NBA. Inside these posts, you’ll get up to speed with every team’s offseason additions and their roster hierarchies, learn whether they’ve addressed their biggest areas of need, ponder over 5 questions that will define their season and then decide whether you agree with my offseason grades and record predictions.

Notable Additions: Caris Levert, Duncan Robinson, Javonte Green, Chaz Lanier

Notable Subtractions: Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III, Simone Fontecchio

Depth Chart:

PG: Cade Cunningham / Marcus Sasser / Daniss Jenkins

SG: Ausar Thompson / Duncan Robinson / Colby Jones / Jaden Ivey

SF: Caris Levert / Ronald Holland II / Javonte Green / Chaz Lanier

PF: Tobias Harris / Paul Reed / Bobi Klintman / Tolu Smith III

C: Jalen Duren / Isaiah Stewart

Roster Hierarchy:

Franchise: Cade Cunningham

Core: Ausar Thompson

Key Rotation: Caris Levert, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Duncan Robinson, Isaiah Stewart, Ronald Holland II, Jaden Ivey

Rotation: Marcus Sasser, Paul Reed, Javonte Green, Colby Jones
Development: Bobi Klintman, Tolu Smith III, Daniss Jenkins, Chaz Lanier

Cryo Chamber: Jaden Ivey

Offseason Overview:

The Pistons achieved one of the greatest turnarounds in NBA history last season, going from the worst team in the league in 2024 to a playoff appearance in 2025. Their 30 win improvement may not be the most drastic single-season increase (2008 Celtics improved by 42 games), but raw win differential doesn’t do this leap justice. The 2024 Pistons were one of the worst teams we’ve seen in the last 2 decades, posting a -10.2 net rating, 1 of just 17 teams to get outscored by 10+ points per 100 possessions since 2005.

It’s unbelievable that this team won 44 games just 1 season after setting a record for longest losing streak in NBA history, without the massive roster changes that traditionally power these types of improvements. That’s what makes this the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history for me, with Detroit looking to build on that momentum with a slightly retooled roster around Cade Cunningham.

Pre-Draft Areas of Need:

🥇 Secondary Creation: 28th in Drive AST% (13.4%), 26th in Hockey Assists Per Game (2.8)

🥈 POA Defense: 29th in PNR BH PPP Allowed (0.95), 22nd in Isolation PPP Allowed (0.94)

🥉 3P Generation: 28th in Open 3PAr (74%)

THJ/Beasley combined for 26 3PA/100 poss, Levert/Robinson likely won’t be able to scale up to that much volume but may be able to create more 3s for the rest of the Pistons with their drive and kick abilities.

Season Outlook:

1. Can Cade Cunningham improve his turnover issues?

Like most high-volume playmakers, Cade averaged an egregious amount of turnovers (4.5 TOV per 75 possessions, 34th%) last season. Unlike most high-volume playmakers however, Cunningham does not have a positive effect reducing his team’s turnovers when he’s on the floor. He was the ONLY player among the 8 players to average 9+ assists per 36 this year to increase his team’s turnover rate (0.5, 18th%).

This is mainly because Cade commits non-passing turnovers at one of the highest rates of any primary ballhandler, ranking in the 28th% over the last 3 years (7.6%). Being tasked with navigating cramped driving lanes with very little shooting gravity around him is certainly a factor, but Cade’s handle (or lack thereof) is a culprit as well. He’s prone to losing his dribble under pressure, thus needs to use his body more effectively when handling the ball, using his frame to his shield incoming digs.

If this TO rate persists as DET upgrades the offensive pieces around him, he will need to dial back his on-ball reps.

2. What do Duren + Ivey need to accomplish to get extended in the offseason?

@thesteinline reported yesterday that, “The Pistons are not expected to sign either Duren or Ivey to extensions prior to to the season beginning”.

DET’s hesitation with Ivey is likely due to the lack of sample size next to Cade, thanks to injuries and Monty’s obsession with refusing to play them together. Ivey had a promising start to the season before breaking his fibula, creeping near league average efficiency for the 1st time in his career (-0.8 rTS%) thanks to a career year from 3 (40.9% on 8.5 3PA/100). Detroit will need to see that shooting hold up under a larger sample, as @JADubin5 noted that Ivey outperformed the worst 3P shot quality of his career by nearly 3.4 percentage points.

Detroit was on a 33-win pace with a -3.3 point diff through the 30 games Ivey played before the injury, then closed the season with a +4.9 point diff on a 53-win pace. DET saw multiple extended win streaks during this stretch, powered by Ausar entering the starting lineup plus Dennis’ arrival after the trade deadline. The Pistons were also far better with Cade on the floor by himself (+4.4) than with Cade AND Ivey (-0.3), mainly because Ausar played just 7 mins with those 2 on the floor together.

Duren’s case is a bit more individual, he’s gotten more efficient every year but remains shockingly ineffective as a rim protector (-1.5% opp rim FG% diff, 23rd%) while fouling incessantly (13th% contest foul rate). His continued struggles with his defensive positioning and stagnation as a FT shooter and overall offensive player are probably leaving DET’s decision makers wanting more growth before they commit.

3. Can the Pistons continue to play a 10-man rotation with 3 non-shooters (Ausar, Ron, Duren)?

As discussed above, Ausar’s impact transcends far beyond his league-worst 3-Point 1.8 3PA/100 and abysmal 22.4 3P% (3rd%). Thompson’s offensive rebounding (100th% teammate miss OREB%), dunkers spot and transition finishing (67.1% rim FG% on 61% rim frequency), plus his defensive abilities as a playmaker (5.0 STOP%, 98th%) and rim protector (-9.6% opp rim FG% diff) make him impossible to keep off the floor.

Ron is the most willing shooter (5.9 3PA/100, 20th%) but he’s just 1.4% better form the 3P line than Ausar, while Duren doesn’t attempt anything outside of 5 feet from the basket. Twin is too special in other areas to even contemplate moving on from him, but Duren and Ron could see themselves packaged in a consolidation move to introduce some more spacers into DET’s rotation.

4. Who is going to help reduce Cade’s creation load?

Cade ran 59.6% of Detroit’s total isos, the 8th highest iso share in the league. He was still able to put up his best iso season yet, ranking in the 91st% in Poss/G and the 45th in efficiency. Cunningham averaged the highest creation TSA1 of his career (18.4, 97th%) on his best efficiency yet (+1.1 rTS%, 72nd%).

These are admirable numbers considering just how much was asked of him, DET needs to do a better job distributing those opportunities across their new acquisitions. Caris is their best option with Ivey out, as a player who scaled down his self-creation reps in CLE, but may be able to ramp up the volume a bit back to his 2020 Nets 98th% creation TSA volume days.

This is also why Ivey is so crucial, as his standstill creation and burst OTD aren’t found anywhere else on this roster. Stronger secondary creation should, at least in theory, improve Cade’s 57% rim FG% (only 22.8% of his 2P FGM were assisted).

5. Will the 2026 Pistons be Detroit’s first top 10 offense since 2008?

After January 1st, the Pistons were the 16th best offense in the league (+1.2 rORTG). Beasley (and Tim Hardway)’s impact can’t be understated, as Beasley was, at worst, the 3rd best shooter in the league and THJ started all but 5 games. DET is cycling in Ivey, Caris & Duncan for Beasley, Hardway Jr. and Schroder, but there are distinct playstyle differences that could lead to different results, even if this is an objective talent upgrade.

Caris’ tendency to put the ball on the floor will dramatically chance DET’s offense, turning those spot-ups into more dynamic drive & kick opportunities. Duncan is a far better playmaker than either Beasley OR THJ, especially out of handoffs and pindowns, which should help maximize Duren and Ausar. Ivey’s health remains paramount, especially since he and the rest of the Pistons will need to adjust to a more movement heavy offense, but if all the pieces click, DET should finish in the top half of the league offensively.

Record Prediction

Total Wins Over/Under: 46.5 via BetMGM

Floor: 37–45 (-7 wins)

This feels unlikely to me, but if DET struggles to adjust to a less static playstyle, we could see a bit of regression after their resurgence last year. Beasley, THJ and Ivey all outperformed their 3P shot quality in 2025, which could diminish with the type of shots Caris & Duncan will be attempting and creating.

Ceiling: 48-34 (-2 wins)

Detroit should be right in the mix with Atlanta this upcoming season, as teams a rung below the more immediate contenders in the East.

Let me know if you agree with my predictions! What are your expectations for the Pistons this season?

Overall Grade: B

Up Next: Atlanta Hawks