The Detroit Pistons could be a logical landing spot for a Western Conference superstar
It is inarguable that the Detroit Pistons completed an impressive 30-win turnaround last season, and much of the credit for that surge could go to the team’s President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon. Acting as the Pistons’ General Manager, Langdon has helped construct a youth-laden roster replete with talent, and that young, physical core is looked upon to continue Detroit’s push towards the top of the Eastern Conference.
And while that much is true, Detroit— outside of star point guard Cade Cunningham— is filled with a lot of useful role players. Now, the Pistons have proven in the past that role players can combine to reach great heights (see: Detroit’s 2004 NBA Championship-winning team), but one of the few criticisms levied against this iteration of Detroit basketball is the lack of offensive firepower surrounding Cunningham.
So, Bleacher Report recently penned an article full of potential trades that could shake up the NBA landscape, and Detroit was featured in a prospective move to land one of the league’s most talented shooters and productive stars out of the Western Conference.
In the proposed trade, the Pistons would receive Devin Booker in exchange for Ron Holland II, Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick. In theory, this trade would help Detroit find a clear, concise second option and fellow star to complement Cunningham.
“Some will preach patience and wonder whether this call could be answered in-house, with someone like Ivey, Holland, Ausar Thompson or Jalen Duren making that kind of jump,” Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote. “Others will cite Cunningham's readiness as a reason to aggressively pursue this player from outside the organization. Pistons governor Tom Gores might be in the latter camp, having stressed back in May that, "Our urgency is not going to stop."
So far in his career, Booker has resided on the cusp of greatness. While the Kentucky product is a respected shooter and multi-season All-Star (as well as a member of Team USA), Booker has been criticized for playing on one-dimensional teams that cannot get over the proverbial hump. A move to Detroit would help Booker land on a balanced squad, and one that is perceived to be ready to make the jump to the NBA’s elite.
“Booker, who hails from Grand Rapids, Mich., is precisely the kind of shot-maker and creator who would prevent defenses from overloading on Cunningham—or punish those that did,” Buckley wrote.”Over the past two seasons, Booker has been a nightly source of 26.3 points and 7.0 assists, and that scoring output actually lags behind his career postseason output (28).
“With Booker and Cunningham leading the offense, and the key components of Detroit's top-10 defense still in place, the Pistons could power their way into the East's elite tier already this season. And since Booker only turns 29 in October, Detroit might have a contending combo on hand for the next half-decade.”
Last season, Booker posted 25 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds per game for the Suns, so the lethal scorer is still a top player in the league, and he provides the floor spacing and skill that could take the Pistons to the next level. Booker’s potential arrival in Detroit would help space the floor for Cunningham, and it could further open up room for the Pistons’ All-NBA third-teamer to operate in the 2025-26 campaign.
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