DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons made the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and have a young group of a players to surround All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham, possibly for years to come.
That’s part of why Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon is emphatic the team will not put all their chips in this offseason.
“We’re not going to be super aggressive this summer, I don’t think. I don’t foresee any of that,” Langdon told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s just developing from within and hoping to keep a couple pieces that we had on the roster this past year. If we can add around the margins to get better, we will, but I don’t think it’s anything that will be too aggressive or crazy.”
While the NBA Draft and free agency are still to come, the Eastern Conference is looking a bit thin, particularly as teams are dealing with major injuries to star players. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard each suffered Achilles injuries in the playoffs that will likely hold them out for next season.
Combine those injuries with the uncertainty of two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks and the conference is looking a bit weaker.
Some teams in the Eastern Conference have started making big moves, like the Orlando Magic, who made a blockbuster trade to acquire Desmond Bane last week.
There’s still the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, expected to have strong rosters again and the Magic adding Bane to go with a young star in Paolo Banchero.
But the movement around the conference isn’t going to distract Langdon and the Pistons from continuing what was a banner first year with coach J.B. Bickerstaff, upping their win total by 30.
“We are definitely doing our due diligence in thinking about different opportunities but we also don’t want it to impact us going forward, either,” Langdon said. “It’s definitely provoked some thought internally in terms of what we can do to get better. I think it hasn’t changed the road map for us. I don’t think we’re in a place to push all our chips in and be locked in to a place. We still want to keep that optionality.”
Langdon doesn’t want to hamper the internal development he believes their group can make during the offseason by throwing too much change into a culture the organization has worked hard to start building.
Younger players like Jalen Duren, Ron Holland, Bobi Klintman and Ausar Thompson are still growing, with Thompson in particular just getting into his first full offseason of development after going through blood clot treatment last year.
Jaden Ivey is still working his way back from a broken fibula and will figure heavily into the rotation next year after playing in just 30 games last season.
“Our guys have been in the gym, working a lot, they want to get better. We’ll see growth from our young players from this year to next year,” Langdon said. “I think that’s ultimately what’s really important for us, because if those guys get better, we’ll ultimately get better.”
While, development from within the organization is at the top of the list for Langdon, he didn’t strike down the possibility of making a trade to improve the team.
The NBA Draft begins on Wednesday, but the Pistons likely won’t be doing anything splashy. They own just one pick and it’s all the way down in the [second round at No. 37](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2025/06/2025-nba-draft-final-mock-draft-roundup-for-the-detroit-pistons.html).
With [eight other teams also sitting without a pick in first round](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2025/06/nba-analyst-expecting-trade-heavy-draft-could-pistons-join-in.html), it might cost a premium to move up in the order, something Langdon is anticipating. And he won’t mortgage the future unless it makes the most sense for the Pistons.
So don’t be surprised if Detroit remains fairly quiet these next few months as the Pistons gear up to try and make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2008-09.