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Detroit Pistons
Aug 21, 2025 7:39 PM EDT
The Detroit Pistons were the surprise team in the NBA last season after they made the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing with the league’s worst record the prior two seasons.
After their historic turnaround, the Pistons will now have increased expectations entering next season, especially with the East being weakened due to injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles in the second half against the New York Knicks during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) — Source: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Of course, Detroit is set to bring back their core of Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson, though they did lose some key players this offseason in Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardway Jr.
Despite this, the Pistons added both Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson in free agency to bolster their bench as they try to compete for a top seed in the East next season.
While the Pistons have elected to keep most of their core together this summer, they could also elect to make a major trade to add another star player next to Cunningham before the start of next season.
Pistons predicted to land Jaylen Brown from Celtics
With this in mind, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes recently released a mock trade that would land Detroit Boston Celtics champion guard Jaylen Brown.
Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) — Source: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
In the trade, the Pistons would send a package of Ron Holland II, Ivey, Harris and a 2027 top-four protected first-round pick to the Celtics in exchange for Brown.
For the Pistons, moving on from three key players in Harris, Holland II and Ivey would be a massive risk but adding Brown to their roster alongside Cunningham in the backcourt could make them into a championship contender next season.
Brown would give the Pistons another much-needed elite scorer next to Cunningham who would also help them space the floor.
Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) — Source: © Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The star guard would also give Detroit another solid wing defender who would fit well next to Thompson on the wing.
Despite this, the Pistons may end up holding off on making this trade with both Holland II and Ivey showing flashes of being potential stars in the future.
Ron Holland
Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (00) — Source: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Boston may also be unwilling to move on from Brown this offseason, especially as they enter a season without Tatum and already having made multiple major changes to their roster by moving on from Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.
Either way, Detroit has enough pieces to pull off a trade to add another star to their roster but they may be set on keeping their current core together as they continue to develop.
About the Author
Nathaniel Holloway