The Detroit Pistons are banking on internal growth and targeted shooting additions to compete in a tougher Eastern Conference. Their season ended on May 18 with a 94-125 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, exposing offensive limitations they've since tried to fix.
President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has been deliberate. The team's win total jumped from 14 in 2023-24 to 60 last season, earning the East's top seed. Yet the playoff exit showed a clear need for change. "We all want to get better," Langdon said in June. He stressed the goal is to be more equipped for the postseason, not only win more regular-season games.
What were the Pistons' biggest offseason priorities?
Their transaction list reveals two clear goals. First, they needed more shooting. Second, they continued building depth with affordable contracts. This provides flexibility for the 82-game grind and potential future trades.
The front office looked for major upgrades but didn't meet the price for stars like Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard. Instead, they made two meaningful signings: John Collins and Isaiah Joe. Both players shot over 40% from three-point range last season.
These are big upgrades for an offense that leaned too heavily on Duncan Robinson. According to Cleaning The Glass, the Pistons' offense scored 10.2 more points per 100 possessions with Robinson on the floor. That was the highest individual mark on the team and in the 98th percentile league-wide.
How do the new players fit the system?
Isaiah Joe is a career 40.6% three-point shooter. John Collins has hit around 40% from deep over the past two seasons. Veteran wings Taurean Prince and Gary Harris, acquired from Milwaukee, also shot above 40% last year.
This gives the coaching staff a major weapon. They could have a Robinson-level shooter on the floor for all 48 minutes. That would fundamentally change an offense that couldn't keep up in the playoffs.
You can track their progress on our standings page throughout the season. The core of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson remains the foundation. Cunningham and Duren were second and third in on-court offensive impact last season at plus-7.3 and plus-6.2 points per 100 possessions respectively.
What is the expectation for the upcoming season?
The Pistons are leaning on internal development in a conference that saw superstars move from West to East. Significant departures like Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart created room for the new shooters.
This wasn't a conservative summer. The moves directly target last season's biggest weakness. The belief is that accentuating the core three players will help in both the regular season and playoffs.
Roughly five weeks from training camp, the roster is taking shape. The goal isn't necessarily to win 64 games. It's about building a team that can advance past the second round. Adding proven shooters like Joe and Collins is a concrete step toward that objective. Fans can follow the team's roster construction on our roster page.
The Eastern Conference is improved. The Pistons' answer was to get more accurate from the perimeter. Their explosive regular-season rise proved their potential. Now they've addressed the flaw that ended their last campaign.
