Optimism is still marred by scars, but Detroit’s rebuild is no longer endless. The Pistons went to the postseason twice in the past three years, climbing from a league-worst 14-68 in 2023–24 to a 44–38 record in Bickerstaff’s first season (2024-25), before finishing an East-best 60–22 in his second year (2025-26). Their seven-game loss in the semifinal to Cleveland demonstrated the heights that they have reached, and the danger that lurks around the corner.
Let’s now move ahead to this scenario in July 2026 when Detroit trades for Lauri Markkanen and acquires Luguentz Dort. The hopes would change from the playoffs back to Pistons championship prospects. Those looking for Detroit Pistons betting tips from analysts, bettors and fantasy managers would no longer be assessing an underdog. They would be paying for an Eastern Conference contender.
The question remains, does Bickerstaff have the shooting, defense, creation and postseason experience to outgun four other top teams including the reigning champion Knicks?
A new-look roster: Analyzing the 2026 offseason moves
The difference-maker is Markkanen. The 7′ former All Star can score off the ball, stretch defenses away from the basket and punish switches. He would be able to provide Trajan Langdon with the front court scorer that Cleveland lacked when it recruited defenders towards Cade Cunningham in the 2026 semifinals.
Whatever the Lauri Markkanen trade, it will cost a lot of money. Detroit moved Jaden Ivey to Chicago in February 2026, so that’s out of the question. A realistic hypothetical cost would be multiple first round picks, plus matching salary and a valued young player, likely Ron Holland II. That’s the cost of one of those come-from-ahead timetables.
Dort offers other values. He has also demonstrated his ability to play the point-of-attack and get himself in the tougher perimeter jobs, which would lighten Cunningham’s load. This situation also comes with a caveat: Dort was traded out of Oklahoma City and into Atlanta in July 2026, meaning the move to Detroit wouldn’t be a free agent signing.
The pair would demonstrate that Langdon believes that Detroit’s 60-win season was not a fluke, but a building block.
Chemistry on the court: How do the new pieces fit?
The question here is whether the Cunningham-Markkanen duopoly will be an offensive powerhouse?
Cunningham earned a trip to All-NBA First Team with an average of 23 points, nine assists and five rebounds during the 2025–26 season. Markkanen might make him difficult to play. Defenders would have a choice in pick-and-pop situations between a downhill creation by Cunningham and a big man with the elite shot. Dribble handoffs might be able to cause the same strain when Markkanen is able to slide screens.
The two wouldn’t necessarily have the chemistry of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in New York or the two-way chemistry of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in Miami. Nonetheless, it would provide Detroit with a better combination than it did with Cleveland. Cunningham would set up and Markkanen would be able to put the puck safely through from a wide open position.
Most importantly, Cunningham would have to produce less in a fewer number of possessions. Preservation is important in May when defenses toughen up.
Redefining roles for Duren, Thompson, and Dort
The job of Jalen Duren would be easier and more dangerous. He could be the showboat on the other end with Markkanen drawing an opposing big off the rim, after earning All-NBA Third Team honors while averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Already an All-Defensive First Team pick, Ausar Thompson may be tasked with protecting top wings, finding the inside when defenders are in catch and play and setting up transition. Dort would get the heaviest guard play and Bickerstaff would have two premier perimeter defenders.
Spacing is the concern. If Dort’s shot is inconsistent, then it would be a big lineup of Duren, Thompson and Dort on the court and it would call for opponents to attack the lane. Bickerstaff will need to get
Thompson and Dort a bit out of time and/or close on another shooter. Detroit’s bench would also have to be productive following offseason turnovers with Marcus Sasser, Caris LeVert and Isaiah Stewart.
The Bickerstaff factor: Is a defensive identity enough to win?
Bickerstaff’s first 2 seasons in Detroit were a turnaround: 44–38, 60–22. His teams play hard, rebound hard and play accountable. Thompson’s emergence, combined with Duren’s development and Detroit’s ability to cope without Cunningham for a portion of March indicates the identity is legitimate.
This is a notional order of battle that aligns with this philosophy. Dort applies pressure at the point of attack, Thompson cleans up some mistakes, Duren guards the court inside, and Markkanen is a big guy that offers offense.
Championships are based on counters, however. A Game 7 win for Cleveland revealed the weaknesses in Detroit when they clamped down on the running game and Cunningham was faced with a covered receiver. Bickerstaff has to find different screening angles, make easier plays for Markkanen and find the right closing lineups. A contender’s floor is his defensive toughness, his ceiling is his playoff invention.
Verdict: Are the Pistons true championship contenders?
The case for Detroit is strong. Cunningham is a first team All-NBA motor. Duren is an up-and-coming All-NBA center. Thompson is a top end defender. Markkanen would bring in a scoring threat that can be added to the line-up, and Dort would bring in a player that can be counted on more in the perimeter, and for his postseason ability. It will be a big, versatile team.
The hurdles cannot be ignored. The reigning champion is New York. Cleveland eliminated Detroit. Now, Miami is pairing Giannis with Adebayo, while Boston has revamped around Jayson Tatum and added Paul George and Mitchell Robinson. Detroit would also be bringing in big names, while at the same time dealing with the shortcomings of thin rotation and the pressure that would come from giving up draft picks.
That makes the Pistons, not the favorite per se, but a legitimate dark horse. They’re talented enough to dream of a title but for the immediate term, a first appearance in the Conference finals since 2008 is a more realistic target. But if chemistry takes hold and Bickerstaff continues to build his playoff offense, Pistons title aspirations might not just be July fun. Then it would be one of the NBA’s signature stories as Detroit made the transformation from the historic loser to potential.