Will The Detroit Pistons Make A BIG Trade This Year? What You MUST Consider Before Making A Move!

Will The Detroit Pistons Make A BIG Trade This Year? What You MUST Consider Before Making A Move!

The Detroit Pistons fantastic start to the season has many people wondering whether a big trade could be coming to Detroit this year. You are Locked on Pistons, your daily Detroit Pistons podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. What’s the deal? Welcome back to another episode of the Locked On Pistons podcast. Per usual, I am your host Kahill. You can find me over on Twitter, Coo Kahill. I’ve been covering the Detroit Pistons for the last four years for the Lockdown Network, band credentialed media member over the last three years. And as usual, I appreciate all of your guys’ support, not only who have made Lockdown Pistons the success that it is now, but also for those of you guys who have helped make the Lockdown Podcast Network the number one sports podcast network in America. If you haven’t already, head to the YouTube channel at Lockdown Pistons. Hit that subscribe button. We’re close to 12,000 subscribers. I really want to get to 20,000 subscribers like within the next year. I know that’s going to be really hard and it’s it’s a big goal, but that’s my goal. Um, so if you haven’t already, please hit that subscribe button or leave us a fivestar review on whatever podcast platform you’re listening to the sun. That’s another great way to support the podcast. I appreciate all of you guys’s I look at all the comments, not just on YouTube, but on all the podcast platforms. I know the podcast platforms are introducing these comments. I go through and look at them all. So, if you guys want to leave a comment, I’ll check it out. Um, but today I want to talk about later on how Kade is playing differently this year or what’s made Cade so much better I should say this year. And then also I want to discuss the double bigs. I for a long time I was against the double big experiment but should I fall back now? Has the double big experiment finally won the argument against me? We’ll talk about it later. But what we’re going to open up with is whether the Detroit Pistons should make a big trade. And I think you guys will remember that last week I had a full episode talking about how on the Hoop Collective that Vincent Goodwill and I told you guys about how Vinnie is the most plugged in person with the Detroit Pistons that Pistons fans can rely on now that James is gone. James Edwards was the Pistons beat Rider for the Athletic now that he’s with the Knicks. The next person that you can trust the most to be plugged in and know everything and and have all kinds of sources whatever is Vinnie. and he was on the podcast, the Hoop Collective with Wendy, Brian Winhorse, and they talked about the Pistons potentially trading for Lori Markin and that they’ve heard that the Pistons have that people believe the Pistons have interest in a particular player that no one seems to know. They haven’t leaked what that player who that player is, but apparently it’s a player that’s not readily or or commonly talked about publicly. Fast forward to now, I’m recording this on the 21st, and there’s been a lot of talk now. We’ve heard from Zack Low talking about the Pistons maybe should make a trade. I was just listening to the Bill Simmons podcast with Zach Low and he kind of furthered that um thinking into, you know, the Pistons are playing so well. Should you start thinking about we can make the finals? Um you’ve seen some reports from uh the Stein line, uh Mark Stein that the Pistons have some could have some interest in making a big move. You’ve now heard Kendrick Perkins and I know that’s not a big, you know, source, but I mean even Kendrick Perkins I just throwing it out there has said that he hears that the Pistons have interest in Anthony Davis. I’m not saying to read too much into that, but the overall point is is that there’s so many where there’s where there’s smoke, there’s a fire. And there’s so many people talking about whether the Pistons are going to make a big trade where I think it’s it’s I think it’s it’s fair to discuss this now. And I’m not what I want to talk about is not so much who they should trade for if they are interested. I want to talk about what happens if they do make a big trade so everyone understands the position they’re in. And if you do want to talk about who they should trade for, I just want to make sure everyone understands why, you know, why they should pick this player or why, you know, you should feel strongly about this guy and not this guy, just so everyone understands the situation completely. So, I was talking with Kyle Mets, friend of the podcast, and he’s the Pistons community salary cap guru. He’s like the Keith Smith of uh the Detroit of the Detroit Pistons community. And before we get into this, you guys have to just operate under this assumption. All right, Cad’s under under that max rookie extension after this or this year. It kicked in. Jaylen Durn’s coming up this off season. Obviously, it seems like he is going to be paid whatever he wants. It seems like a max is certainly on the table. A max for him right now is $41.5 million. Now, if he makes all NBA, let’s I I let me just say I think it’s really dumb that we have to like it feels like people have to root against their own players making all NBA because it the price skyrockets so much to where like there’s a question of does it actually hurt the team. But I’m not even going to discuss him making all NBA. We’ll just say the max without making the AllNBA is 41.5 million in the first year. So that would be during this off season. You also need to take into account and understand that Assar will be getting an extension in 2728. That will be the first year of Assar’s extension. Now, I’m not questioning or or really going to speculate on what the extension number will look like, but I can tell you guys with with near 99.9% certainty that Assar will be getting an extension from the Detroit Pistons. And however much it is, that’s, you know, for you to speculate. I went ahead and penciled in the number and I felt like this was being kind of conservative. $33 million a year by then. Keegan Murray got 27 and a half. You saw Kamani Tammani Kamar get 22 and a half. Uh Brown Christian Brown get 25. So in two years with the cap going up, I went conservative. It probably will be more than this, but I went conservative and said $33 million a year. The reason why I say this, the reason why I bring up all those numbers is that if the Pistons trade for somebody who is on a max or near max deal in in under contract in 2728, you will be looking at a team as of now. Now, things can change, but as of now, we’ll be looking at around and this is according to Kyle. We’re looking around seven spots that they have to fill. seven spots that they would have to fill while being around 21ish million dollars under the second apron. And that’s that’s being that’s with me being conservative about Assar’s extension being $33 million. So the reason why I bring that up is that if you make a big move for a guy that’s under a contract in 2728, one, you better hope that that guy you got is what takes you to that, you know, we’re we can make the finals uh roster. And two, you better have hope that you have you will have the ability to find uh um cheap uh impactful players along the margins. With that said, that’s why now I’ll go into the names that have been speculated and where I’m at when it comes to a big trade. I am not saying that they should just completely remove any possibility of trading for someone on a contract that’s in 20 that has a contract in 2728. What I am saying is I think it would probably be more beneficial for the Pistons because I am probably I’ll go ahead and and and spoil this for you guys. I am probably in the pro make a move. I I am in the pro make a move camp. But I do think it probably would be smarter for the Pistons if they do make a move to trade for somebody that that’s contract expires before 2728 and then maybe you can resign them to a cheaper deal than what they were already on. I think that would probably be better for them than trade for someone who has a contract farther into the future. And that’s why and and and not why, but now we’re going to move into the contracts that I’m mentioning. Lori Marketin has been a guy that’s been mentioned over and over and over again. He’s the hot name on the market for the Pistons, and I understand it. He’s I think he’s a great fit for what they need. However, he’s under contract to 28-29. He’s going to be getting paid this year 46, next year 46, the year after that, which is 2728. That’s the first year we’re talking about, $49 million. and then in 2028 2029 $53 million. So he actually would be under contract for another year after that. Now there is a positive way of looking at that is that you have a year one of these core pieces locked up long term. But again, like I mentioned earlier, the other part is is that you better be 100% sure that this is the team that will take the next step because you will be in the second apron because in after 2728, Steu is coming off the books and you’re going to want to resign him now. And you don’t have a problem, teams won’t have a problem of going on over the second apron if it’s for a championship level team for like a year or two. But you better hope that you’re a championship team then if this is what you’re doing. So just to keep that in mind. Not saying that means you shouldn’t trade for Lori. If you believe that this would make them a championship contender in the East, then yeah, I mean, I get it. I’m just saying that you have to have that in mind. So, that’s what Lor’s contract looks like. Anthony Davis has been brought up a few times now as of late. Anthony Davis’s contract is a year less than Lori. He gets paid 54 this year, 58 the next year, and then in 2728, which is the year I keep going back to, he has a player option that he will opt into for 62.5 million. Do you want that under? Do you want that in that year? That’s something you got to consider. I think Anthony Davis is probably on like the back list of a lot of Pistons fans minds. Um, but he’s been brought so I thought I should bring up his contract. And here are two players that I’m not saying the Pistons should go after, but here are two players I feel that that match what I’m talking about to you guys so you guys understand what I mean here. First player, Zack Lavine. A player that fills your half court creation issues. He has defensive concerns. Uh I there was a great Twitter thread the other day that discussed how throughout his career why he’s been like a so consistently now there has been years where he hasn’t been but so consistently like a negative on offense because of in the in the short way to paraphrase it they lose the possession battle when he’s on the floor because he doesn’t create many steals he doesn’t hustle on the boards all that he whatever but the he with the Pistons he’d be playing with the team that is dominant on the glass that’s dominant on the defensive end and just needs somebody that can help create in the half court. I think that would be a good fit for him. Not saying they should go after him, but the reason why I bring up Zack Lavine is because his contract is off the books the year before 2728 and he’d be 31 at that time. So, if you were to trade for a Zack Lavine, let’s say, and he after that contract expires going into 2728, you could if he’s played well and you’re like, “Okay, this is a good fit. We like him.” You could resign him for less than what he was making. He’s not going to get that max. He’s not going to get that $48 million that he got in this previous contract at 31 going into this into that off seasonason. He will have to resign for less. So, that could be a good good situation. Just a a contract situation like that where you have a guy that’s off the books the year before. Now, you can renegotiate, resign him for a lesser amount, and now you have more cap room to play with. Or if it doesn’t work out or you you’re like, “Okay, you were great for these two years, but we want to move in a different direction.” you now have the flexibility to do so while also having these extension for K during NSR on the books. You can now still go out and make a move for someone you think better fits the team at that point. So you have that flexibility still in that first year of an NSR extension along with the Jaylen Durham extension where all think it’s coming this off seasonason if he continues to play this way. And then the other player that I’m going to bring up that I think actually should be this is a player I think the Pistons should be considering Michael Porter Jr. He’s making $38 million this year. He makes 40 the year prior. He is off the books in 2728. I think he fills what they need a lot in the half court. He hustles more on the glass than a lot of these guys I just mentioned. He’s actually a pretty good rebounder for his size. He’s had flashes I thought in in in in Denver where the kind of defensive scheme they had. I’m not saying he was a good defender, but he had flashes I felt as like a weak side rim protector where they trusted him because they played Jokic pretty high and they trusted him as like a weak side guy. Overall, I like MPG. I think he would be a good fit with what this team need. The bigger point though here is again is that he’s off the books in 2728. He’s only under contract this year and next year. And then again, like I said with Zack Lavine, you can resign MPJ if you like what he’s brought for a lesser number than $40 million. And now this guy, instead of being in his 30s, he would be 28 years old. And again, off the books. You have flexibility and decisions that you can make once all the extensions kick in in 2728. So that’s what I think the Pistons and everyone that talks trades has to keep in mind. I am not saying that you should not trade for somebody who has money on the books in 2728 or any, you know, moving forward. I’m just saying that I think if you if you are wanting to trade for someone like that, you have to believe that that core along with the guys you already have is what takes you to the next level and that’s you will be a contender, a legit contender with that roster. If not, I think the Pistons should make a trade for someone on a shorter contract like this with like like an MPJ contract, like a Zack Lavine contract to where one, you can choose to move on afterwards and maybe go in a different route and have that flexibility or resign them for a lesser number once they get off this contract. That’s where I stand with it. I think that’s what has to be in the back of everyone’s heads when they discuss these trades because these extensions are coming down and you don’t you got to be wary of the second apron. Kade’s on his extension. If Duran keeps playing like this, he’s going to get that max extension. I’m telling you guys, Assar will get an extension and then maybe in three years if Ron improves, then Ron’s extension would be coming up. I’m not saying that all these are guarantees with Ron. But like if Ron develops like everyone thinks he will, then his extension is the year after that. So you have to keep all this in mind when you are putting money on the books long term and who you’re trading for. That’s all I’m saying. Um, so let me know in comment section down below or over on Twitter, Cuckahill. If you are in the pro making a move camp, who are the names that you are thinking the Pistons should be looking for? Let me know comment section down below or over on Twitter, Cuckoo. Yo, coming up, I want to talk about how K Cunningham is is playing better this year. What is it about him that’s that’s leading to him being so much more successful? We’ll talk about it coming up. Let’s talk about something every business owner knows too well. Missed calls. 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Visit door-inyourbag.com for full details. Door Dash in your bag all season long. So I want to thank you guys again. Make lockdown pistons your first listen of every single day. We are free and available on all your podcast platforms. If you haven’t already, head to the YouTube channel at lockdown pistons. Hit that subscribe button or leave us a fivestar review on whatever podcast platform you’re listening to us on. That’s another great way to support the podcast. Kate Cunningham, I feel like, is playing the best of his career right now. I think he’s having the best season of his career. I think he’s playing like a bonafide top 10 player in the NBA. I think he’s been absolutely fantastic. And for those outside of Detroit, you look at the raw box score numbers and they probably would agree. They’d be like, “Okay, yeah, 27, you know, nearly 10 assists again, you know, all that stuff.” But people will look at his true shooting his efficiency and be like, “Okay, well, he’s not having an efficient season. is he actually really having that great of a year? And I would argue 100% and I would argue that he’s having a vastly better season this year than he was last year. Um, and I also would like to say just for the efficiency crowd that the efficiency is heavily tanked by the first four games of the year. The first four games of the year he was not, we talked about this, he did not look good in the first four games of the year. He was struggling shooting from the floor. He was not playing very well. And the Pistons overall were not playing very well. The Pistons did not look good in the first four games. I know it’s feels like a long time ago already, but everyone remembers. I think after the first four games, there were people freaking out. They’re like, “Oh, this team doesn’t look as good. What’s going to happen?” Blah, blah, blah. But obviously after that Cleveland game, everyone turned it around. Everyone started to play better. Everyone seems like they were more in sync with each other. And that includes Kade. So since the Cleveland game, which Kate’s played eight games, he hasn’t played the entire 11ame win streak. He’s played eight of them. In those eight games, he’s averaging 31 points a game, 11 assists, five and a half rebounds. But most importantly for the efficiency crowd, he’s right around where he was last year. He’s at 55.6 true shooting, and he’s shooting 54% on twos. A lot of this is heavily impacted by the fact that he’s not making threes right now. But over this streak, he’s averaging 7.8 free throw attempts a game, which is doing a great thing for his efficiency. He could even be shooting better from the free throw line. I think he’s a better shooter than 82%. Um, but over this streak, you’re seeing him finish at the rim better. You’re seeing him draw more fouls. You’re seeing him play like the cade we know he the three-point shooting is really just tanking his efficiency. But overall, my point is that the 52 true shooting that he has on the season, that’s not really where he’s been since he’s really started to play well after the first four games, those games really killed it. Um, and he’s been a much more efficient player um since then. But the other part that comes with efficiency that I would say that people aren’t really bringing up with Cade or actually I’m going to say people aren’t really bringing up. People are bringing it up, but it’s it’s not being brought up by people that dislike Kade. And that’s why I want to talk about it. Kade’s been more efficient this year in my opinion because he’s turned the ball over way less. He’s not. He’s the the turnovers that the Pistons that that the Pistons had to deal with from Cade last year were a lot. They he was averaging a ton of turnovers a game. And the way in which he was committing the turnovers was tough. And in the situations in which he was turning the ball over was tough. And on the last podcast, I spoke to you guys a little bit. I just briefly shouted it out. his scoring turnover percentage, which is basically like turn the ball over when you’re in like scoring positions or trying to score, is down this year. But I wanted to bring up this number right here to kind of it really paints more so what I’m saying. So last year, Cade, and we know that Cade’s main archetype, he is, and this I say this in a good thing. I don’t know why people say this is a bad thing. I say in a good good thing. He’s a pick and roll merchant. He loves running pick and rolls. Last year in 2025, he had 780 possessions as a pick and roll by ball handler. His next closest offensive play type was transition with 309 possessions, over 400 more possessions as a pick and roll ball handler. So, the type of volume Kade is putting up as a pick and roll ball handler is at the very very top of the league. I haven’t looked. I probably should have looked, but just off, you know, off the dome, I’m going to guess that that has to be top three. Um, top three in the NBA when it comes to volume as a pick and roll ball handler. I’d say maybe like Luca is ahead of him. Maybe he might even be top two, but either way, the volume is absurd. The problem is is that with that volume, he was turning the ball over insane and at an insane rate. He was turning the ball over 16% of the time in pick and roll. So he had a turnover percentage of 16.2% last year strictly in pick and rolls. All right, that was last year. This year again, pick and rolls are his by far his most used play type. 145 possessions. His next closest again is transition at 622 possessions. He went from what was it? What did I just say? 17% last year, 16.2% last year turnover percentage in pick and roll. This year he’s down to 13.1% turnover percentage in the pick and roll. That would be by far a career low by far. He’s not turned the ball over nearly as much in pick and roll. And that’s allowing the Pistons to dominate the possessions battle. They’re dominating on the offensive glass. They’re not giving easy opportunities to the other team. They’re not just giving easy fast break opportunity, easy points to the other team. And I think that is a huge reason why the Pistons are on this 11game win streak. I mean, just the simple numbers if for those of you guys just want to know turnovers per game. Over the last eight games, he’s only averaging 2.6 turnovers a game. The eight games he’s played over his last eight games, only 2.6 turnovers a game. Fantastic. I said that I would I would deal with three three to three and a half turnovers a game. And he’s under three. That’s absurd. That’s while having 11 assists while scoring 31 points a game on 55.6 true shooting. That’s really efficient basketball. Would you like him to be around 60% true shooting? Sure, his three-point shot will catch up, but when you take into the volume that he has creating the Pistons offense, he’s scoring 31 points a game. He’s creating that many looks for everyone else while also being moderately efficient and not turning the ball over. That leads to an overall efficient offense. So, Kade taking care of the ball, I think his handle has gotten much better this year as well. I think another stat that kind of shows that his handle has gotten a lot better is that if you go to last year as well, he was turning the ball over a ton in transition. A ton in transition. And I think a lot of that has to do some of it was some risky passes, sure, but I thought a lot of it in transition was his handle was just too loose. He he would lose control of the ball. He gets into tight spaces, they knock it loose. I thought that was the biggest concern with Kade or the biggest weakness for Kade last year was his handle in traffic. Last year in transition, 309 possessions. The turnover percentage was even higher in transition. 17.5% turnover percentage last year. This year, he goes from 17.5% turnover percentage in transition. He’s had 11% turnover percentage this year in transition. Just the the erasing these turnovers that Kate had is leading to him being the best he’s ever been. Now, the improved finishing around the rim, which by the way, the finishing around the rim, I feel like actually, you know what? There is a way for me to there’s a way for me to find the exact number for you guys. If I can get it in time, like in the next minute, I’ll read it for you guys. If not, I’ll got it for you guys for the next episode. I should have had this number brought up. I thought for a minute that I wasn’t going to be able to get this number, but I I think an easy way of looking at this as well. while I try to get this number out for you guys is that over the last eight games he’s shooting 54% on twos and we know that Kade has shortened up where he takes his shots from. All right, perfect. Here. So, last eight games, that’s October 29th. So, we’re going to go from October 29th to now. What is K shooting at the rim? Because my eye test tells me he’s shooting a lot better at the rim. So, let’s see if my eye test is backed up. Yeah. So this year over the last eight games he is shooting 60% at the rim according to Synergy for his career he has been hovering around 56 57%. He’s taken another jump I feel like at the rim when it comes to finishing and I think that’s that’s just another part of his evolution. He’s not turned the ball over as much. He’s finishing better at the rim. He’s drawing way more free throws. He’s leading a more efficient offense because of that. And due to that I think he’s having the best year of his career. And that’s why I feel like K’s having such a better season this year and why he’s different this year. If he continued to do this, it he’s going to be on all NBA first team and he’s going to be an MVP candidate if this continues. I saw NBA.com had him fifth in NBA on the the MVP ladder. He will be in the MVP conversation if he continues continues to do this. I don’t like it’s going to happen. And I didn’t even bring up the fact that he’s been more locked in than ever on the defensive end of the floor. He’s playing exceptional, man. This is the MVP everyone wanted on the Detroit Pistons. It’s Kade Cunningham. He’s playing exceptional. Let me know comment section down below or over on Twitter, Cucku. Yo, how do you guys feel about how Kade has been playing this year? Do you believe he’s playing the best he’s ever played? And what are some things that have popped off the screen to you when watching Kade? Let me know again comment section down below or over on Twitter, Cuckoo. Yo, coming up, am I finally wrong? I won’t admit I was wrong last four years because the numbers back me up. But is it time for me to admit that I was wrong about the double bigs this year in 2025 with Jaylen Dur and Isaiah Stewart? We’ll talk about it coming up. Today’s episode is brought to you by Prize Pix. You and I make decisions every day. But on Prize Picks, being right can get you paid. Don’t miss any of the excitement of this sports season. Whether you’re following the NFL, NBA, or both, there’s no better time to jump in on the action. If you haven’t tried it yet, Prize Pix is the simplest way to play. Just pick more or less on at least two player stats and if you get them right, you win. It takes less than 60 seconds to make your lineup. 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I’ve said this many times over the years and if you’ve listened to this podcast for for a while I think you know this but I strive myself on when the evidence changes so will my opinion. I am not someone who will hold on to an opinion. I will not hold on to opinion to try to force myself to be right. I will not sit here and say even if the evidence stacks against this, if if the evidence changes, I will change my opinion. And for the last few years, especially since like I’d say Stu’s second year, Isaiah Stewart’s second year where former GM Troy Weaver tried to talk about this double big and make him back, make him just four, the numbers suggested that they were not very good. and I came on here and talked about it all the time how I really dislike the double big lineup and they need to get an actual 2025 for in for the modern NBA. With that said, with Tobias out this year, the Pistons have went back to that double big lineup a little bit this year during Tobias uh absence, and the numbers have been pretty damn good. And I will come out and openly admit if they continue to play like this then obviously I would be wrong about whether it could ever be sustainable. I don’t believe it was sustainable a few years ago but this year it is proving so far to be very sustainable and I will back off the double big experiment being something they need to throw out throw out the you know throw into the garbage this year. In 105 minutes played, the Pistons are dominating, and I mean dominating the minutes of Isaiah Stewart and Jaylen Dur on the floor. This is according to data baller. In 105 minutes, they are winning their minutes by 20.1 points per 100 possessions. They have an offensive rating of 128.6 and they have a defensive rating of 108.5. They have at the same time the league’s best offense when those guys are on the floor and a top three defense when those guys are on the floor together so far in 105 minutes. Now, I will say this, 105 minutes, not the largest sample size. Still need to see more. You guys know I like to do my big takeaways after 20-ish games. That’s when I do my quarterly uh takeaways. So, we will wait until that podcast. Once we reach 20-ish games, I will give like my bigger takeaways on every part of the team. the double bigs, you know, Cad’s play, Assaar’s play, the whole rotation stuff, whether they should make a big move, like all that stuff will really we’ll have like a big like maybe two podcasts in back-to-back days or maybe I’ll make like part one, part two in one day going over that after like 20-ish games. But so far, I I am I’m not going to lie to you guys. So far, they have been dominant. They they have been absolutely dominant when these two guys are on the floor. And why do I think that is? I think the reason that they’ve been so successful this year is one I feel like the Pistons very clearly have an identity that not only Stu has bought into obviously, but Duran has bought into. Duran has has improved so much as a defender this year and as someone that just gives play-to-play energy and play-to-play concentration on the defensive end of the floor that it’s paying off. Um, and they’re just dominating teams on the defensive end of the floor which is translating to easy offense for him. That’s one. The second thing is the Pistons are playing a different like a team like Houston I feel like is the other team that’s kind of playing like this and this goes back by the way if you guys remember last year I had a big rant on the podcast about how people who say oh everyone in the NBA plays the same way and I came out here and spas like just say you don’t like basketball because there’s so many different ways teams play across the NBA. If you want a certain type of basketball you can find it somewhere in the NBA. Not every NBA team plays the same. It’s not true. And the Pistons and the Rockets are a great example of this. I mean, there’s many other teams that play differently as well. Like the Pistons and Rockets, the only team that plays the type of way I’m about to talk about is that like in the first quarter of this last game, you saw the Pistons drawing up plays in semi-transition to get Stu an easy post up under the basket against a smaller guy and he’s just punishing him down there. You see, obviously, we we’ve talked about Dur’s face up game, but you see Stu like the Pistons are running. I mean, I don’t know what I honestly should figure out what the NBA calls it, but in high school, my team, my varsity team called it motion. It’s it’s a it’s a a play. It’s a It’s a action that has been ran for years and decades and decades. I I It’s hard to explain it, man. How do How would I explain this this action? You have like two guys at the high post, two guys on the block, or two guys like in the corners, I guess, and then Cade at the top of the key. Hey inbounds the ball or passes the ball to one high post. He cuts off the other high post and then sets a back door for the opposing big man. He loops around. So now he’s underneath the basket with either Cad’s guy now on him because they switched or Kad’s guy is now trailing. So now Kade’s coming off the back screen he set for the opposing big guy. Now he is chasing around that coming for a DHO to Stew. I hope I did a good job explaining that. However, the way the Pistons are doing this is they are not just going to Kate off the DHO. they’re having students in, you know, inbound or or entry pass this uh the ball to Jaylen Dur underneath the basket and he’s just dominating in there. So, the Pistons are like incorporating like postups on mismatches with Steu and Duran and their size on like smaller guys um that I don’t think they were doing last year. And again, I don’t think you see many teams with that type of size in the front court doing that outside of Detroit and Houston. So, I think that’s leading to easier offense for the Pistons, especially in in semi-transition. you see both an Steu and Duran sprinting to get that early seal position um under the basket and everyone’s been willing to give it to them and the Pistons just dominating that. And then obviously the other thing is with Duran, Stew, Assar, and Kade on the floor, they’re just obliterating teams when it comes like to offensive rebounds. Like they just it almost leads to I was just listening to Zack Low and and Bill Simmons talk about this with Houston, but it’s the same thing with the Pistons. When these two guys are on the floor, a miss is like a a miss is like a an assist basically. Like it’s it’s like you you might as well be throwing a pass because if one of them miss you have four guys and really if you want to take Kate out of it, you have three guys in Assar, Dur, and Stew who are just battling and just and just dominating teams in the second chance points that you get to the rim if Assar misses layup. And this is why we’ll talk about this in another episode. why Assar’s drives the fact that he’s simply being more aggressive despite that the efficiency isn’t where you probably would like it at this point. You want him to make more free throws. I think that would change that would I I actually asked somebody if Assar is shooting 64% of free throws where to shoot shooting be it would be around 57%. So free throws are really just holding him back. Anyways, that’s why you want Assar to continue to be aggressive on drives and get to the basket because a misdriving layup from Assar that forces a rotation, a a misdriving layup from Kade that forces a rotation, a miss driving layup from a Duran that forces a rotation, it basically is an assist because the Piston has so many great offensive rebounders and putback guys that if that if Duran misses layup, Assar misses layup, Kane misses layups that Steu’s put there putting it back, Duran’s there putting it back, Assar’s there putting it back. just simply getting a paint touch and a look at the rim is leading to good offense for the Pistons because either they’re finishing or they’re just dunking the putback and then they’re dominating on defense and Stu I think this is the other thing that has to be brought up obviously is Stu is shooting much better from beyond the arc this year. Last year I mean I asked him before the season um at media day I asked him if he was going to shoot threes this year and he said yeah I think that’s something I really want to make a big part of my game and this year he’s shooting 39% from three. So Steu is making threes. You’re dominating on the defensive end. You’re dominating on the glass. You’re incorporating more postups on and you’re drawing up actions to get mismatches on post-ups for these guys. You’re going to them in semi-transition more and you’re dominating the offensive glass and second chance points. I mean, if that all holds like, yeah, they’re probably going to dominate. Like, if that’s all gonna gonna hold at the same time, yeah, you’re probably dominate the minutes. I I mean, it is what it is. Um, we’ll see if they continue to do I want to see a larger sample size, but so far they’ve been killing teams. So, let me know comment section down below or over on Twitter, Cookie Hill. Do you like what you’ve seen from the double big lineup or do you think they should continue to start stew even when Tobias gets back? Let me know comment section down below or over on Twitter. That’s all I’ve got for you guys today. Thank you guys making lockdown pistons your first listen of every single day. If you’re on all your podcast platforms, hit that subscribe but whatever podcast platform you’re listening to us on. And until next time, I’ll see you guys later. Stay safe out there and peace out everybody.

Detroit Pistons’ red-hot start sparks major trade rumors—could a blockbuster deal push them into true contention? Ku Khahil examines Detroit’s position in the NBA landscape, breaking down potential trade targets like Lauri Markkanen, Anthony Davis, Zach LaVine, and Michael Porter Jr. With Cade Cunningham playing at an MVP-caliber level and Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson eyeing lucrative contract extensions, salary cap strategy becomes crucial as the Pistons plan for sustainable success.

Key highlights include Cade’s evolution as a playmaker, his improved efficiency, and the Pistons’ surprising dominance using a double big lineup with Isaiah Stewart and Duren. Ku Khahil raises thought-provoking questions about roster construction, long-term cap flexibility, and the impact of Detroit’s unique playing style. Can the Pistons’ aggressive approach and rising stars cement them as Eastern Conference contenders? Tune in for a sharp analysis of Detroit’s next moves and what it will take to reach the NBA Finals.

SUBSTACK: kukhahil.substack.com

PLAYBACK: playback.tv/watchpistons

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