The Detroit Pistons showed real fight in 2024–25, pushing the third-seeded New York Knicks to six games in the first round, and the message is clear: this young team is no longer a rebuild project. Cade Cunningham broke through with his first All-Star nod, Ausar Thompson flashed elite defensive chops, and Jalen Duren continued to grow into a double-double machine.
But now it’s time to add pieces that accelerate the next phase: contending. Enter this proposed three-team blockbuster, a deal that would land the Pistons an elite perimeter defender and a veteran sniper, in particular, Jrue Holiday and Cam Johnson.
This deal also involves the former NBA champions Boston Celtics, who could be looking to move on from Jrue Holiday, considering their salary cap situation. The final team involved in the trade is the Brooklyn Nets, a team with the very talented Cam Johnson. How do all these teams and pieces fit into the trade? Let's go through it.
Proposed Trade Details
Detroit Pistons Receive: Cam Johnson, Jrue Holiday
Boston Celtics: Isaiah Stewart, 2027 First-Round Pick (DET), 2031 First-Round Pick (DET)
Brooklyn Nets: Tobias Harris, Sam Hauser, Marcus Sasser, 2027 Second-Round Pick (DET), 2027 Second-Round Pick (MIL)
Detroit Pistons Become A Playoff Contender Next Season
The Pistons are clearly done rebuilding. After a scrappy six-game battle with the Knicks in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, Detroit is now shifting toward win-now mode. The addition of Jrue Holiday, a six-time All-Defensive Team member and two-time NBA champion, immediately transforms the team's defensive identity and stabilizes its late-game execution.
Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals this past season, while shooting 40.3% from three, and remains one of the smartest perimeter defenders in the league. He gives Cade Cunningham a co-star who can run the offense or spot up, allowing the newly crowned All-Star to be more aggressive as a scorer.
Alongside Holiday, the Pistons land Cam Johnson, a career 39.2% three-point shooter who brings size, spacing, and veteran experience to Detroit's forward rotation. Johnson, who posted 18.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 2024–25, fits like a glove next to young core pieces like Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson.
This trade adds playoff-tested IQ and much-needed shooting to a team that finished in the bottom five in offensive rating. With a new-look rotation headlined by Cunningham, Holiday, Johnson, and Jalen Duren, Detroit will approach next season with a ton of confidence.
Boston Celtics Move Jrue Holiday's Contract Off The Books And Bring Back Assets
For the Celtics, this is a proactive financial reset with long-term value. With Jrue Holiday earning $32,400,000 and $34,800,000 over the next two seasons with a $37,200,000 player option in 2027-28, Boston uses this opportunity to clear the 34-year-old's salary while securing future picks and a rotation big.
Isaiah Stewart is a strong return; the 23-year-old center brings rebounding toughness (5.5 RPG), physical interior defense, and a steadily improving jumper (32.1% from three) that makes him a versatile fit alongside Luke Kornet or whoever the starting center will be next season. He’s under contract through 2027, giving the Celtics a cost-controlled, productive option up front.
The two first-round picks from Detroit, in 2027 and 2031, offer long-term draft flexibility. With Jayson Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles injury and Boston’s roster approaching luxury tax complications, retooling without tearing down is the priority.
Stewart strengthens their bench immediately, and the added picks give Boston the ammo to chase a star or restock the post-title window. For a team that’s stayed elite through creative moves, this one balances competitiveness and fiscal clarity.
Brooklyn Nets Add Veteran Leadership And Shooting
Brooklyn enters the offseason with no clear direction, but this deal gives them something valuable: veteran stability and flexibility. Tobias Harris, fresh off a quiet but efficient campaign (13.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG on 47.7% FG), adds leadership and reliable scoring to a roster headlined by Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton.
He's a plug-and-play forward who doesn’t need the ball to be effective and is on an expiring deal, giving Brooklyn a path to cap space or future trade leverage. The Nets also acquire Sam Hauser, who shot 41.6% from deep in a rotational role for Boston, a sneaky-good add for a team that struggled from beyond the arc.
Brooklyn also picks up Marcus Sasser, a second-year guard with upside as a two-way spark plug. Sasser flashed potential with Detroit as a defensive pest and capable shooter (6.6 PPG, 38.2% from three). The second-round picks in 2027 (from Detroit and Milwaukee) further sweeten the deal for a franchise caught between rebuilding and staying competitive.
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