According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Thunder are trading Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for two future second-round picks. Joe spent the past four seasons with Oklahoma City, which included a championship run. Check out trade grades for each team below. 

The Thunder entered the offseason needing to shed salary because they were well over the luxury tax and second apron thresholds. 

Although Isaiah Joe’s $11.7 million salary for next season is not a negative contract, he’s more of a luxury than a necessity. Jared McCain seized his role as the main sharpshooter off the bench, and Oklahoma City has a plethora of guards that need minutes, such as McCain, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topić and Bennett Stirtz. 

Per NBA Salary Cap Analyst Yossi Gozlan, the Joe trade reduced the Thunder's estimated tax bill by about $76 million. Factor in the Aaron Wiggins trade, and Presti has shaved about $140 million in tax payments so far this offseason. This is because of the multipliers on dollars that are significantly over the luxury tax threshold. 

Oklahoma City also sent him to an Eastern Conference contender. This lets Joe compete for a championship without making him a perennial postseason threat for Gilgeous-Alexander and company. 

Overall, the Thunder receive an “A” for the Joe trade. They opened up a roster spot, reduced their projected luxury tax bill significantly, acquired future draft capital and did right by Joe. Another second-round pick would have led to top marks, but it was a worthwhile return. 

Detroit’s offense ranked 29th in three-point attempt rate and 17th in three-point percentage last regular season. Shooting and spacing woes were a main contributor to the Pistons’ early exit in the second round of the 2026 playoffs. 

It’s not an easy problem to fix because core players like Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren (if he returns) are both non-shooters, thus compromising Cade Cunningham’s impact. Enter Isaiah Joe. The sharpshooter has consistently hovered around 41% from deep on high volume over the past few seasons. He commands defensive attention even when he’s not involved in actions due to his movement shooting and quick trigger. 

Adding Joe to the roster will smooth out the offense and make Cunningham’s life much easier. Detroit also has the defensive infrastructure to compensate for Joe’s slight frame and mediocre defense. 

Overall, the Pistons receive an “A+” for the Joe trade. At the cost of two second-round picks, they acquired a player who fills a huge need, has championship experience and earns a reasonable amount of money over the next two seasons. It’s a win-win deal for both sides.