As the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches, the Detroit Pistons are one of the teams that could get active as they look to bolster their Eastern Conference-leading roster.
The Pistons have primarily added around the margins of a young core of players since president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon took over in 2024.
However, being the top team in the East and holding plenty of draft capital makes Detroit a prime suitor for some potential playmakers.
The latest name being linked to the Pistons is two-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-Defensive Team selection Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies. The Pistons and Boston Celtics are among the teams with interest in the former Michigan State Spartan, per a [report from HoopsHype](https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/01/16/nba-intel-ja-morant-jaren-jackson-jr-anthony-davis-kyrie-irving-peyton-watson-jonathan-kuminga/88210035007/).
Jackson, 26, has become one of the most reliable defenders in the NBA since being selected fourth overall in 2018 by Memphis. He was named Defensive Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season, but also proves to be a steady scorer, averaging 18.8 points this season to go with 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 blockers per game.
A one-and-done at Michigan State, Jackson was a major force for Tom Izzo’s squad. While that 30-win Spartan squad was booted early from the NCAA tournament, Jackson was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and made the All-Big Ten Third Team.
Jackson would be a strong fit for the Pistons as they are a defense first team, but one that could benefit for another solid scoring option to go with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
He’s under contract until 2030 — with the final year being a player option — so this would be a major move to seeting in place the future of Detroit’s roster.
Memphis is [reportedly entertaining trade offers for star guard Ja Morant](https://go.skimresources.com?id=126006X1587345&xs=1&xcust=jacob-richman%7C&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fnba%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F47561697%2Fgrizzlies-entertaining-ja-morant-trade-offers-sources-say&product_category=Sporting+Goods%3EAthletics%3EBasketball) so they can begin building around some of their younger talent. Jackson is presumed to be part of that future and would probably require a decent haul of picks and one of Detroit’s young talents going the other way to get a deal done.
But in terms of splash moves at the trade deadline, this would certainly be one of the bigger deals the Pistons could make to not just help their current roster, but make a tangible investment in the next few seasons.