The Detroit Pistons effectively elevated Paul Reed to their No. 2 center position after trading Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason
For the entirety of the offseason, the Detroit Pistons have been working through a series of changes to their center position after trading Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2026 NBA Draft. Later in round two, the Pistons made a deal to land former Virginia 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso to further bolster the frontcourt depth in the Motor City, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Of course, the Pistons are embroiled in a contract negotiation period with restricted free agent Jalen Duren after the 22-year old’s All-Star season. So far, neither side has been able to reach an agreement, and the clock is ticking on how long the deliberation process can last for.
But on top of that major offseason storyline, earlier today the Pistons decided to fully guarantee the contract of Paul Reed ahead of the 2026-27 campaign according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
With Stewart moving to the Grizzlies during the summer, Reed is going to take on a lot more responsibility in Detroit this season since he’lll effectively be bumped up to the second-string center position on the depth chart assuming the Pistons work out a deal with Duren sooner rather than later. Tolu Smith is also expected to compete for minutes at the end of Detroit’s bench, but the descending order is expected to go: Duren-Reed-Smith-Onyenso to open up the regular season.
Last year, Reed served as the Pistons’ instant-impact, change-of-pace player given his high energy and propensity to make plays on both ends of the court. Reed finishes through contact and adjusts in mid-air better than most, so B-Ball Paul was a valuable asset to have in the low post for the Pistons during their playoff run when Duren began to struggle.
From a wide picture standpoint, Reed averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season, but he was only on the court for just under 14 minutes each night. So, B-Ball Paul found a way to stay productive while battling inconsistent playing time, and his always-ready attitude meshed well with his momentum-swinging usage.
From a defensive standpoint, Reed gives up a little bit of size compared to traditional centers at 6-9 and 210 pounds, but B-Ball Paul’s timing, positioning and leverage allow for the six-year vet to perform effectively against the 7-footers of the NBA. In fact, Reed actually graded out higher than Victor Wembanyama in terms of defensive playmaking last season, so the Pistons should retain some defensive rigidity that is left over from Stewart’s tenure.
In terms of how Reed and Stewart compare to one another, the former is more refined from a shot-making perspective and is clever around the rim, while the former Piston focused on controlling the paint defensively as his most influential offering while in the Motor City. Without Stewart, the Pistons still have a highly effective tandem in Duren and Reed to work with, and they’re both passable defenders to boot, but now B-Ball Paul will have the boost of knowing that his contract is fully guaranteed for the upcoming season.
