Earlier today, ESPN writer Kevin Pelton released a new collection of win projections for the 30 NBA teams, and the Detroit Pistons received a less than favorable assessment. According to ESPN BET's over / under total, the Pistons were assigned 45.5 wins earlier this offseason. Now, after just one preseason game has been played (a contest in which the Pistons achieved a 21-point comeback and secured a 16-point victory), Pelton projects that Detroit will win 42.6 games in the 2025-26 regular season.

Now, Pelton offered a short analysis as to why he thinks the Pistons will underachieve as opposed to ESPN's prior gambling prediction.

"Largely because of the loss of Malik Beasley, arguably Detroit's second-best player last season after All-Star centerpiece Cade Cunningham," Pelton wrote. "Replacements Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson don't rate anywhere near as effectively as Beasley, who finished second in the NBA in made 3-pointers last season. Relying more on young talent could cause the Pistons to take a short-term step back."

While Pelton does have a point that Detroit will no longer have the three-point shooting of Malik Beasley to rely on, he is understating the value that both Robinson and LeVert bring to the squad. Robinson is better than a replacement level shooter for Beasley, and the two should offer a bit more on the defensive end of the court than he did. LeVert has experience running the offense, and the two can cover multiple roles for the Pistons this season.

So, Pelton makes a decent point, but it does not do justice to the quality of players the Pistons have brought into Detroit this offseason.