Detroit Pistons 2025-26 Season Preview & Predictions

Alrighty, guys. If you guys haven’t been here before, we’re going to be doing our Detroit Pistons season preview and predictions. If you guys didn’t watch the offseason prediction preview video, from all the reporting that had come out, it had seemed like Malik Beasley, I know, ironic now, Dennis Schroeder, and Tim Hardway Jr. were all going to stay in town. Albeit that did not happen. And I think they did good. Trejan Langden and company on how they were able to pivot. So before we start today’s video, let me hear your thoughts down below in the comments section. What are your thoughts on the offseason that the Detroit Pistons had and is it enough to warrant excitement to make up for last season where they finished seventh in the East and they lost to the Knicks, which is fine, and they took the steps forward. I have one big question. I think it’s on everybody’s mind. If you are a fan of the Pistons, there’s a man by the name of Jaden Ivy. Jaden Ivy, I personally think I forgot who like Jaden Ivy was a guy when he came out of Purdue. He was sort of a combo guard with point guard-like skills this past year. He sort of flashed the ability to flourish next to Cade. We didn’t get to see it for the full season due to the the injury that occurred, but he’s going to become extension eligible. Do you sign him or what I think is going to happen, we’re going to see him go into restricted free agency next year and they rather let the market dictate it and just see how he plays out this season? cuz worst comes to worse, they can then probably sign and trade him if they have to. As I don’t know if they want to warrant paying him more than $30 million a year. Yes, in 30 games last year he averaged 17 and a half points, shot 41% from three, four rebounds, four assists, and he’s been a guy who’s gotten incrementally better every year. He’s a two-way player, what 6’4, he’s got a solid wingspan, solid athlete. I like Jaden Ivy. It’s just timeline where this team is. Is that going to be where the team should go and invest money? And I think in an era where having clean books and structured, staggered salaries is better than just having your books be two or three big salaries filled out with a bunch of minimum contracts. I think that’s how the NBA is. You want one max dude and you build a team around them. So, let’s go ahead and talk about this. After last year’s breakthrough, can Detroit’s young core take the next step? The Pistons look to solidify the playoff standing. The Pistons, for some, they’ll say they stunned the league last year. Anybody who was paying attention knew that if JB Bickerstaff and Mr. Trajan Langden did what needed to be done, they were going to become a good team. I think the surprising part was they were able to triple their win total and storm into the playoffs. Kate Cunningham not only emerged as an all-star, he emerged as an allNBA player. Kate Cunningham is someone that I have said since he was drafted. I saw him when I went to the University of Kansas in person during that co season cuz I had bought season tickets before they had canceled them. So, they had to fulfill my order. And I went with Nikki and myself. We went and watched Cade Cunningham literally like 30 feet away from the court in person just carry a terrible okay state team and since then I have said he is the closest thing I have ever seen in from an American counterpart to Luca Donic in that slow fast style of play that Dylan Harper kind of has as well this year obviously after Kate Cunningham emerging I think Jaylen Duran really solid solidifi solidified himself as an interior player that should be extended isn’t inefficient in terms of like his numbers were always efficient but I think anybody who watching knew that there was like defensive lapses there was like ineffectiveness in his play that now this past years and you saw JB bigger staff like really you know pinpoint what the guy needed to do become more disciplined become more of a just do repetitive repetitive do the same things it’s fine doing the same things if you’re good at doing the same things over and over again. That’s cult being consistent and that’s what people like. And then obviously I saw Thompson flashing that two-way ability looking like an OG Anobi at times. This year obviously the bar is higher. They’ve lost some veterans, but I think they brought guys in and they did it while playing some salar cap gymnastics. And this is going to test Detroit’s ability to sustain success. Now, Tulo Smith and Deness Danish Jenkins or is it Deness? I know they’re both Portsmith guys. I saw them at Portmith. Met them at Portsmith. Back on Two Ways. I think they’re solid players. Paul Reed was brought back. I think Caris Levert’s deal to be their six-man was solid. Duncan Robinson was signed and traded on that three-year deal, but really they can get out of it by next year. And they got Chaz Laneir, the one of, if not the best shooter in this year’s draft. He was the best college basketball shooter two years ago and improved his numbers while going to tougher competition. And then they also got Javvante Green on a flyer. They have Kobby Jones who’s a solid two-way guy kind of like a smaller Josh Hart. Yeah, they lost Tim Hardway Jr. Dennis Schroeder. Part of the signing trade with the Heford Duncan Robinson was Simone Fonteo and all they gave up was a second round pick. Technically, they could bring back Malik Beasley at a max of I think it’s $7.5 million with non non-bird rights, but it’s unlikely to happen as he’s still under investigation with the league. For a team that now has built an identity around pace, physicality, and defense, I think we saw in the playoffs their depth were a bit thin, and Isaiah Stewart’s injury limited them inside. And I think Isaiah Stewart’s another someone that will they keep longterm or once they start paying people, will that be someone that they move off of? Now, Detroit retoled smartly after losing some veterans. Carris Lever and Duncan Robinson slot in as proven shooters and scorers, while Chaz Laneir offers a cheap long-term upside. Some might say the loss of Beasley and Schroeder stings, but Jayen Ivy’s return should soften the blow. GM Trajan Langden didn’t swing big but doubled down on surrounding Cunningham with shooting and versatility. We assume projecting the starting five it’s going to be Cunningham, Jaden Ivy, Assar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jaylen Duran. Then you have nice bench in my opinion. Caris Levert, Ron Holland look great up in summer league. Duncan Robinson, Beef Stew, Paul Reed, Devonte Green, Marcus Sasser, Chaz Laneir. I think that’s a pretty solid team. You got an AllNBA player in Kate Cunningham. You got a good duo in Jaylen Duran and Isaiah Stewart in the big man rotation. You got a lot of athletic wings and Assar Thompson, Ron Holland. And even with like having the thick boy and Tobias Harris, I think that helps. And having the shooter Robinson and Levert is is big. And yeah, they lost their top two shooters and Tim Mardway Jr. and Malik Beasley. But this team gained experience in terms of their playoff settings with guys like Tim Tim Or Jr. being replaced by Duncan Robinson and Caris Levert replacing Mr. Malik Beasley. Like both of these two two dudes they brought in have played in the playoffs. So it’s not a total loss. Same thing with Javante Green. So they’re getting guys that I think their depth is better. I mean, there’s still some questions like they don’t have a true backup point guard that you would like maybe even a Cory Joseph might have. I don’t know if that’s the best player there, but I think there could still be if Jane Ivy doesn’t take the steps and if they can’t stagger minutes where, you know, they take, yes, they start Jaden Ivy and Kate Cunningham, but one of them will sit and one will stay on the floor at all times. So when Iivey’s on the floor, sometimes Cade will and then sometimes Ivy will send off different looks. That’s something that JBaker staff’s going to continue to look at when he molds this Detroit young core and balances out how they want to play the different lineups as are still developing a guy like Ivy and even Cunningham still figuring out and Assar Thompson and Ron Holland. Those are things that they’re going to have to think about and he’s going to be tested to maintain last year’s momentum without Beasley and Schroeder. But the system he put in place last year fits Cunningham who is that primary playmaker and shot creator. This is a team that is below the first Abram like by 20 million. They have a trade exception from Schroeder the bannual exception but Cunningham’s money is going to hit the books and you got other guys who are going to have to get the rookie scale extension that we just talked about from Ivy Der and Assar. So that’s why you’re not doing many big swings and the multiple multiple second round picks they have will give them trade options. But bringing in an elite shooter like Chaz Laneir is going to be able to carve out a rotation role as early as year one who lit up college ball every year no matter the level he played. I think Kobby Jones is a strong multi-positional defender who’s a little bit of playmaking ability just gives him some developmental wing depth. But what we’re really hoping right here, Jane Ivy returning from injury and reclaiming his role as that co-star next to Cunningham Amasar, using his elite athleticism and taking that leap that we saw last year, but going to a higher level and maybe some playmaking shot creation ability and Jaylen Dur who’s already dominating the glass, but could he develop not just from this double double machine, but just into an allaround player that is worthy of being a franchise cornerstone in terms of the front court as he fits the mold of what you want from a center who maybe not might be a top five center, but he’s going to be a top 15 center for his career, one of the top 20 centers in the NBA. That gives you a double double, just consistent thing that you want. And Kate Cunningham, who’s he’s entering his mid20s, has blossomed into the heart and soul, the foundation of this team and the offensive engine and the locker room leader clutch. He’s surrounded by better shooters, healthier teammates, better defenders, and he’s already taken that step to stardom. will go to a superstar where he becomes an MVP. I think he’s going to show that Detroit belongs in the East and the upper epschelon of the East. But the question is how far can the Pistons go? I think Detroit is still a team that they’re they’re still trying to figure it out. I don’t think it’s like perfect. I think they’re still wondering where what what what’s going to happen with the team if they stagger or if they look better. I think there’s questions that need to be figured out with how good are Jaden Ivy, how good is Assar Thompson, because but if they don’t improve, what if they take a step back? I I think that’s the one thing that you could have fear of. But we we touched on it. I think Ron Holland looked good. Jay Ivy, you’re hoping he’s getting better. But I really just think the whole question holds up on Jayen Ivy is like, is he going to be that good and does it work? Or should you just cash the chips and and try to get someone better? And you don’t know what the Russian and with everything from the apron and how much parody there is in the NBA. You would think that it’s better to go with continuity as we’ve seen with like the Denver Nuggets and other teams that continuity might be the best thing to do. The Thunder obviously are another one. The Boston Celtics could be an even another example that that might be the just what to do and to hold steady at least for this season before doing anything radical because Detroit is on the rise. The goal this year is a top six seed and that’s realistic if Ivy stays healthy and him and Cunningham click. While they’re likely a year or two away from real title contention, if everything obviously pans out, they continue to add to their team. the guys develop. The East’s shifting landscape is going to open up a path to the top four if they stay in the right way. And with JB Biggerstaff being one of the better coaches, and I think every time he gets a new job, every season he improves, Trajan Langden seemingly also being a very good executive. We’re looking at, yes, there might be some questions about how can the new additions from Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson stabilize a young roster. Will Chaz Laneir shooting earn him early minutes? Will Jaden Ivy and Kate Cunningham be able to coexist? And will Jaylen Duran and Isaiah Stewart be enough to anchor their front court? And are they going to be consistent? So, I think this is a team that’s gunning for a top six seed. They’re going to probably be the fifth or 60th at least push for 50 wins if everything surges while the young core flourishes and Levert and Robinson deliver. Worst case I think is they slip into the plan if the shooting and the depth of this team regresses because the additions or the development don’t go the way that it’s supposed to. But that’s everything. Thanks for watching. Comment, like, and subscribe if you made it to the end of the video cuz it seems like you like this comment content. And if you have any predictions, what are your thoughts predictions? Let me hear them in the comment section. That’s it for me, guys.

The Detroit Pistons are coming off a breakthrough 44-win season and a playoff return — but can Cade Cunningham and the young core take another step in 2025-26? With Cunningham leading the charge, Jalen Duren dominating the paint, and Ausar Thompson flashing two-way upside, the Pistons look to solidify themselves as a playoff mainstay.

This offseason, Detroit’s Trajan Langdon retooled by adding Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson, and Javonte Green, while drafting sharpshooter Chaz Lanier. They lost Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dennis Schröder, but the return of Jaden Ivey should help balance out the backcourt. JB Bickerstaff will now be tested to keep the team on track without the same veteran depth from last season.

Can Cunningham rise to All-NBA levels? Will Ausar and Duren make developmental leaps? And is this roster strong enough to push into the East’s top five?

Catch the full Pistons season preview and stay tuned for more NBA 2025-26 coverage here.

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I own none of the footage in the video, it is intended for the purposes of critique and education.

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