Pistons trade rumors ahead of NBA free agency, 2026 draft

Detroit Pistons trade rumors are swirling as the hours tick by and the countdown to the 2026 NBA Draft continues.

Third-year president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has said publicly the team needs to add ball-handling and shooting this offseason. They have the No. 21 overall pick in the first round Tuesday.

The Pistons can operate as an over-the-cap team this offseason and retain the ability to re-sign multiple free agents, and have access to the $15 million mid-level exception (up to a four-year deal worth $64.7 million). Jalen Duren (restricted) and Tobias Harris (unrestricted) are their most important free agents.

Here are the latest Pistons NBA rumors and ahead of the draft (Tuesday 8 p.m.) and free agency (Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m.).

Here’s what veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein wrote: “The Pistons, I’m told, should be monitored as a potential third-team facilitator in a Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-Miami trade … with Tyler Herro ultimately landing in Detroit.”

Herro, 26, has one year and $33 million remaining on his expiring deal. He has long been a dangerous scorer, and averaged 20.5 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 48% overall and 37.8% from 3 last season. But he played just 33 games (he played 77 games in 2024-25 but 42 in 2023-24).

The Pistons can’t trade for Herro without parting with two of Duncan Robinson, Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert for salary matching.

“Herro directly addresses their need for shooting and ball-handling,” Freep’s Omari Sankofa II wrote Sunday. “The question for the Pistons is how much they’re willing to give up for a player with availability issues and a pay raise potentially looming.”
and Coby White

A few players “regarded as potentially available and said to interest Detroit” include Charlotte Hornets unrestricted free-agent guard Coby White and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (two years, $22.6 million). Marc Stein added “possibly even Sacramento‘s Zach LaVine” who has a massive $49 million player option that carries a June 29 deadline. It would be difficult for the Pistons to reach that number in a salary match, but LaVine, 31, is by far the most credentialed of the three players as a two-time All-Star.

The Pistons are “believed to be” among the suitors for Austin Reaves, who is expected to become an unrestricted free agent, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported. Reaves, 28, is widely expected to re-sign with the Lakers after declining his player option.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat are among the teams with interest in Stewart, one of the league’s top rim protectors. He makes a reasonable $15 million next season and has a team option for $15 million for 2027-28.

“Stewart is not merely available but outright bracing for a trade that sends him elsewhere this summer as part of any move that the Pistons make to bolster their shooting and playmaking depth,” Fischer wrote.

Stewart is 25 and the Pistons’ longest-tenured player as the No. 16 pick in the 2020 draft. He had a historic eight blocks in 17 minutes in Game 4 of the first round of the 2026 playoffs against the Orlando Magic.

Then suddenly, his production off the bench behind the also-struggling Jalen Duren sunk to such a low that third-stringer Paul Reed eventually became the more trusted center option as the playoffs progressed.

The Pistons “appear ready to rely on Reed in an increased role,” Amick reported. Reed, 27, is a six-year veteran and has a $5.6 million nonguaranteed deal for next season.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons rumors, trades ahead of NBA Draft, free agency