{"id":199381,"date":"2026-06-08T10:02:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T14:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=199381"},"modified":"2026-06-08T10:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T14:02:27","slug":"isaiah-stewart-among-3-pistons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/08\/isaiah-stewart-among-3-pistons\/","title":{"rendered":"Of The Pistons 3 Primary Trade Chips This Offseason, Beef Stew Expected to Draw Most Interest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Detroit Pistons<\/a> president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said earlier this summer<\/a> that the organization believes the team can improve and become “a championship contender.” But, for the Pistons to accomplish that feat, it may cost them some depth.<\/p>\n

Isaiah Stewart Among 3 Pistons Who Could Be Traded<\/h2>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re always going to feel like we can get better, and that\u2019s the goal: to be a championship contender,\u201d Langdon said about whether he will take a swing<\/a> at bringing in a second scorer to complement Cade Cunningham. \u201c<\/span>We didn\u2019t think it would come this fast- these questions about being a championship contender after Year 2. We have to factor that into the equation as well. Two years ago, when I took the job, nobody in here thought I\u2019d be getting championship contender questions two years later. But here we are<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Detroit is coming off a historic season, albeit a somewhat disappointing playoff run. For the third time in franchise history, the Pistons won 60 games as they claimed their first division title since 2007-08. The Pistons also made the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since the late 2000s. While the Cleveland Cavaliers ousted the Pistons in the second round, they did win a playoff series for the first time since claiming their last NBA championship in 2008.<\/p>\n

Things To Do This Summer<\/h3>\n

Detroit has several things to do this summer. The Pistons are projected to have $30 million in cap space this summer, with 11 players under contract. However, the Pistons have some key forthcoming decisions, starting with the NBA draft. The Pistons own the No. 21 draft pick later this month.<\/p>\n

Could they trade the pick? Cem Yolbulan of Detroit Jock City<\/a><\/span> believes it could happen.<\/p>\n

“Since Detroit hopes to be a title contender next season, it’s hard for any rookie selected in the bottom half of the first round to contribute at a high level, said Yolbulan said today. “So, the Pistons have a few options, including trading the pick.”<\/span><\/p>\n

After the draft, the Pistons’ main decisions are pretty much a given: offer Jalen Duren<\/a> a qualifying offer and exercise Daniss Jenkins’<\/a> team option. Duren is expected to remain with the Pistons<\/a> after signing a huge contract extension. Tobias Harris<\/a> and Javonte Green<\/a> are also expected to return despite being unrestricted free agents.\u00a0 Additionally, Ausar Thompson<\/a> is slated to sign a rookie extension this summer. But his salary for the upcoming campaign is basically locked in at 11.1 million.<\/p>\n

So, if the Pistons do indeed keep their pick and re-sign all the above players, they would have 14 players under contract and would project to be at the luxury tax threshold. The Pistons could save cap space by waiving Duncan Robinson,<\/a> who has a small guarantee of $2 million of his $15.99 million deal. Doing so would make no sense as Robinson is the Pistons’ best shooter and had one of the best seasons of his career.<\/p>\n

Isaiah Stewart Among 3 Pistons Who Could Be Traded: Where Could He Land<\/h2>\n

Detroit has some trade chips if that is the route they decide to go. Isaiah Stewart<\/a>, Caris LeVert<\/a>, and Ron Holland<\/a> are the Pistons’ best trade chips.<\/p>\n

Stewart bounced back from a down season in 2024-25 to finish seventh in the 6th Man of the Year voting. The 25-year-old averaged 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 55% from the field in 58 games this past season. He produced two double-doubles and scored in double figures 23 times, topping the 20-point mark three times.<\/p>\n

However, Stewart, aka Beef Stew, struggled during the playoffs. So much so that Langdon and coach JB Bickerstaff mentioned he was unplayable during the Cavs series, which is why Paul Reed got more minutes.<\/p>\n