The Detroit Pistons entered the 2026 NBA offseason with hopes of picking up a player like Austin Reaves. Ultimately, Reaves went back to the Los Angeles Lakers.
What happened?
The Lakers have a ton of pressure that they are facing going into the new season, and Luka Doncic is coming off an injury-riddled season. The Pistons wanted Reaves because he would've been an A-plus complementary piece to Cade Cunningham and the rest of the lineup. Reaves signed a four-year, $184 million deal, which starts at $41 million in 2026-2027.
Why it matters for Detroit Pistons
As long as Cade Cunningham is running the offense and maintaining his high level of play, the Pistons probably won’t eye up Luka as a future target. Instead, the situation becomes interesting for their recent target, Reaves. A scenario where Reaves wants out of LA is unlikely at this time, but it’s a situation worth monitoring for the Pistons. The Lakers haven’t seen life without LeBron James in nearly a decade.
What comes next?
NBA insider Tim McMahon believes that there is a reality where Luka lands in similar territory as Nikola Jokic. McMahon said on The Hoop Collective, “He’s done nothing but express optimism and excitement about the Lakers since he signed that extension. But it’s not that long-term of an extension, and you better believe there’s teams around the league that are looking at that situation and saying, ‘hey, if this thing goes sideways, we’d sure like to get Luka in the midway through his prime.’” The Pistons have a lot to consider ahead of a run of games you can check on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page. Last result: Detroit Pistons 94-125 Cleveland Cavaliers on 2026-05-18, and their recent form is 2W-0D-3L, including two consecutive losses.
