Trajan Langdon
Getty
Trajan Langdon sitting courtside during a Big3 game.
The Detroit Pistons haven’t been open to making blockbuster moves over the past two seasons.
Despite entering the contenders circle in the Eastern Conference, Pistons President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon, has decided to stick with the core group that’s in the building.
So far, the strategy is paying off.
But what happens in the NBA Playoffs could certainly dictate a change. If the Pistons underperform, then they might enter the trade market over the summer in search of a notable addition. Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes suggests that Michael Porter Jr. could be the perfect fit in Detroit.
The Mock Trade That Sends Michael Porter Jr. To The Pistons
Michael Porter Jr.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks won 120-66. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
In the hypothetical deal, the Pistons would acquire Porter Jr., along with a 2026 first-round pick that comes from the Charlotte Hornets.
Brooklyn would pick up Charlotte Hornets veteran Miles Bridges, Detroit’s Duncan Robinson, and a 2027 first-round pick (the better pick between the Hornets or Mavericks).
Meanwhile, the Hornets would land Ausar Thompson and Paul Reed from the Pistons.
Based on the analysis from Hughes, Porter would bring obvious shooting improvements to the team to pair alongside Cade Cunningham, but also add a self-creating element to the court when Cunningham isn’t running the show.
Assuming this could be Tobias Harris’ final run with the Pistons, the 27-year-old Porter would take up a forward spot, bringing some experienced and somewhat youthful energy to the floor.
“Porter Jr. flashed never-before-seen creation skills with Brooklyn this season, adding a layer to an offensive game previously defined by spot-up sniping and minimal dribbling. The Pistons wouldn’t necessarily need him to generate his own looks like the Nets did this year, but they’d happily take a bit of creation along with MPJ’s five-alarm fire outside shooting.” via BR
The Tough Side Of The Deal
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles during the third quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
It’s not easy to part ways with homegrown players.
The 23-year-old Ausar Thompson was a major investment for the Pistons, as they spent a fifth-overall pick on the former Overtime Elite prospect.
On one end, the Pistons believe they have one of the top defensive players in the game with Thompson. He brought an elite defensive skillset to the table right away and can be seen as a game-changer on that side of the ball.
When it comes to his offense, Thompson is consistent, but the three-ball hasn’t developed.
Between his sophomore season and the 2025-2026 run, Thompson has shot 52.6% from the field. 7.4 of his 8.0 attempts per game come from two-point range.
Thompson has averaged 10.1 points per game over two seasons. While he saw a slight improvement from three, going from 22.4% to 26.1%, he’s simply not a threat from deep.
Porter, on the other hand, is a stellar offensive player. During his six-year run with the Denver Nuggets, where he was typically a third option at best, Porter averaged 16.2 points, while shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.6% from three.
Since landing on the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, Porter has averaged 24.2 points, while hitting on 36.3% of his threes. He can be a top option or the third–either way–he’s productive.
It’s tough to imagine the Pistons would be hunting for a way to cut ties with the third-year Thompson for a massive contract like Porter’s, but a lot can change after seeing how the postseason plays out.
File this one under something to keep an eye on.