There might not have been a better story in the NBA’s regular season last year than the Detroit Pistons. After coming up short in the first round of the playoffs in 2025, the Pistons roared back with a vengeance in the 2025-26 regular season, winning 60 games in route to earning the number one seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
The playoffs brought a different challenge, however. Detroit needed an all-time comeback in the first round against the Magic to survive that series, but ultimately their
offense failed them in a six-game loss to the Cavaliers in the second round. Jalen Duren was missing in action the entire postseason, which ultimately clouded the offseason in the Motor City. As of this writing, Duren and the Pistons have still yet to come to a long-term agreement. The Pistons did not include him on their media day roster, and the deadline for him to sign the qualifying offer is rapidly approaching.
Detroit Pistons: Over/Under 48.5 wins (-105/-120)
To win Central Division: +130
To win Eastern Conference: +850
To win Finals: +2500
Last season: 62-20, lost in the second round to Cleveland in six games
Key additions: John Collins (via LA Clippers), Ebuka Okorie (17th pick in 2026 Draft), Isaiah Joe (via OKC)
Key losses: Tobias Harris (San Antionio), Caris LeVert (Milwaukee), Isaiah Stewart (Memphis)
Cade Cunningham continues to take leaps, as the first time All-NBA first team selection managed a career high in assists last year. A core of he and Ausar Thompson is fun to think about, but Thomspon needs to take a leap offensively to help this team reach its potential. But looking at the rest of this roster, I just have more questions than I did last season. Ebuka Okorie is a great option to play off of Cunningham, but he’s likely a year or two away from slotting into the starting lineup. I don’t believe them to be as deep as they were last year, and the depth that they do have is more limited in what they can do.
Even if the Duren situation works itself out, it’s caused a cloud to hang over this team a bit. It was always going to be tough to replicate the success of last year, but even with the respect that I have for Cade Cunningham, I’m expecting a pretty large step back for Detroit basketball this season.
