The NBA’s 2025-26 season is underway.

The Detroit Pistons debut Wednesday night at the Chicago Bulls (8 p.m.), which means it’s time for our annual Pistons predictions and NBA Finals picks.

We tasked three writers with answering burning Pistons questions, including picking a breakout player, best and worst-case scenarios, the trade deadline, final record and mapping out the playoffs.

Here are their answers:

Omari Sankofa II, Pistons beat writer

Favorite or least favorite offseason move: Quickly pivoting to Duncan Robinson in free agency after Malik Beasley’s gambling probe removed him from the market.

Biggest question you have: If their “second star” is already on the roster, or if this season will prove there’s at least one big move needed to become a contender.

Breakout player who makes biggest leap: It feels like Ausar Thompson is ready for a big season, with a strong postseason and healthy offseason now under his belt.

Best-case scenario this season: Cade Cunningham is a bonafide MVP candidate, Pistons win 50-plus games and make it past the first round of the playoffs.

Worst-case scenario this season: The offense sorely misses Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.’s spacing, Cunningham is closer to just an All-Star than MVP and the young players stagnate in their development. Pistons win 40 games.

Position of need they attack at trade deadline: Power forward, because they don’t have enough size and spacing behind Tobias Harris. Target: Utah Jazz floor-spacer Lauri Markkanen??

Leading scorer, points per game: Cunningham, 28 ppg. Improved shooting from 3 leads to his best offensive season yet.

Pistons record, finish in East: 46-36, fourth seed — the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Yorks Knicks are favorites to win the conference, and the Orlando Magic will be formidable. After those three, I like the Pistons’ odds of clinching home court in the first round.

How far will Pistons advance in playoffs? Second round. They defeat the Atlanta Hawks in 7 games in a 4/5 matchup, then fall to the 1-seed Cavaliers in 6.

Conference finals picks: Cavaliers over Magic; Thunder over Mavericks.

NBA Finals pick: Thunder over Cavaliers. OKC is the best team in the league and will repeat.

ANALYSIS: 7 Pistons predictions for 2025-26: Cunningham will enter MVP conversation

Shawn Windsor, columnist

Favorite or least favorite offseason move: Not resigning Beasley. Actually, that was simple luck. The skill came in pivoting quickly to bring in Robinson, who isn’t Beasley (at least the 319 made 3s version we saw last season), but should help fill the absence. 

Biggest question you have: What Jaden Ivey looks like with Cunningham for a full season. 

Breakout player who makes biggest leap: Thompson is the smart pick. And he’ll rise. But let’s go with Jalen Duren. 

Best-case scenario this season: Ivey returns and shows his shooting early last season was sustainable, everyone else takes a leap and stays healthy, and the Pistons push their second-round opponent to seven games. 

Worst-case scenario this season: Ivey misses the entire season with knee complications. The youngsters stay the same. The newcomers don’t mesh. And the Pistons fall to the play-in tournament … and lose. 

Position of need they attack at trade deadline: Wait, we’re starting the Markkanen talk already? Puh-leeeze. Give it a rest. Let’s see how the first half goes. Still, it’s a good bet the Pistons will need some shooting from a big and another ball-handler who can run an offense and defend. Sound familiar? Oh, and if New Orleans makes Trey Murphy III available? Swing for it … 

Leading scorer, points per game: Cunningham, 28 ppg, up a couple points from last season’s 26.1 average. Why? No Ivey early helps him get into an early aggressive rhythm. His 3-ball is better. And, did you see him in preseason? He knows he is that dude now, and carries himself like it. 

Pistons record, finish in East: 46-36, fifth — because even though the Pistons will be better, the progression isn’t always linear. 

How far will Pistons advance in playoffs? As the 5-seed, the Pistons will “upset” the Milwaukee Bucks, the 4-seed, and make the second round for the first time in almost two decades. They will then take the Knicks — the top seed — seven games and lose to them again. 

Conference finals picks: Knicks over Cavs; Nuggets over Clippers.

NBA Finals pick: Nuggets over Knicks in 6. Jalen Brunson gets New York two games. Nikola Jokić gets Denver four games, and continues to move up the pantheon of all-timers. 

[ The most consequential Pistons season in at least a decade is finally here ]

Carlos Monarrez, columnist

Favorite or least favorite offseason move: Caris LeVert looks like a great bench addition through his versatility, scoring and playmaking.

Biggest question you have: Are Ivey and Duren part of the long-term future after the team failed to sign them to rookie scale contracts?

Breakout player who makes biggest leap: Duren’s defense got better late last season, and he’s got about 30 million reasons to make it even better before next summer.

Best-case scenario this season: They get hot, get better health luck with Ivey and Beef Stew, and reach the Eastern Conference finals.

Worst-case scenario this season: They get bad health luck at the wrong time, squeak into the play-in tournament and lose.

Position of need they attack at trade deadline: A veteran addition for more depth at center never hurt anyone and the Pistons could use an experienced defensive stalwart in the playoffs.

Leading scorer, points per game: Cunningham, 26.9 ppg. He took a big leap last year, earned some MVP votes and showed more polish in his game that should only get better.

Pistons record, finish in East: 50-32, fourth — the Pistons are on the rise, they have valuable experience and if they stay healthy there’s no reason to doubt an improvement on last season’s 44-38 finish.

How far will Pistons advance in playoffs? As the No. 4 seed, they’ll avenge last year’s loss to the No. 5 seed Knicks, then fall to the top-seeded Cavaliers in the second round.

Conference finals picks: Magic over Cavaliers; Thunder over Lakers. Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane are a top trio for Orlando, while the Thunder is too strong for Bronny James and his dad.

NBA Finals pick: Thunder over Magic in 5. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a young core lead the Thunder to an inevitable repeat.

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