The Detroit Pistons were one of the most remarkable success stories of the 2024-25 NBA season. After setting the all-time record for most losses the previous year, they were able to turn it around completely, earn a postseason berth, and then push the New York Knicks to the limit in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
This season, though, they’ve elevated from a cute success story to an outright dominant force in the Eastern Conference. They’re being powered by a young core, led by Cade Cunningham, that has made consistency their key to success. As a result, even as trade rumors keep floating around the organization, their rationale is bending in a different way.
The NBA Player Guessing Game allows you to guess the NBA player based on clues about their team, division, height, jersey number, points, and experience.
Pistons Choosing Their Core Over Star Trade Pieces
Leading the conference with a healthy lead at 19-5, the Pistons have built their success from the ground up, with the continued excellence from Cunningham combined with the emergence of Jalen Duren serving as a legitimate difference maker.
As a result, they have been able to sustain the fourth-best defensive rating and the ninth-best offensive rating, with their work in the clutch truly setting them apart from every other team in the NBA.
11 of their wins have come by less than 10 points, but it feels like a sustainable plan, thanks to Cunningham averaging 9.2 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 rebounds in 20 games in the fourth quarter this season.
Add in an almighty jump from Duren (18.8 ppg vs. 11.8 ppg) and a roster that has been constructed around their two stars, and the success for Detroit starts making sense. However, with a chance to make a deep playoff run in a wide-open East, rumors have floated around about the team going star hunting in the trade market.
Anthony Davis is a name that has been discussed across the league already, and Giannis Antetokounmpo could soon join that conversation. But, according to Marc Stein, during an appearance with Zach Harper, the Pistons are willing to place their trust in the current roster.
“The early rumbles you hear about the Pistons are that they still want to operate safely. The trade deadline is 2 months away, so we’ll see where the Pistons are in February, but the early noise about the Pistons has been that they don’t want to go out and make some splashy trade.”
Acknowledging the rumors about the Dallas Mavericks superstar, Stein outright rejected the notion, claiming, “I don’t see that from the Pistons.” Instead, he believes the team wants to let it grow organically, with the All-Star leap from Duren as evidence in their favor.
As Stein admitted, things could change between now and the trade deadline, but for the time being, it doesn’t look like Motor City is going to play host to a major acquisition. With the success their current core is having, it is hard to fault their logic, especially looking at other contenders across the league.