The Detroit Pistons open their 2026-27 NBA season at home against the Boston Celtics on October 20, fresh off a 129-125 preseason win over the Toronto Raptors. Coming off a 60-22 season that ended in the East semifinals, the team has retooled its roster with shooters to support stars Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
The Pistons are ranked 13th in the league's preseason power rankings. Their best-case scenario is challenging for the No. The team's core remains intact, with Cunningham and Ausar Thompson expected to keep improving. The front office made a series of moves to address a clear weakness. Last season, Detroit finished 17th in three-point percentage but were 29th in attempts, a spacing issue that hurt them in the playoffs.
New additions Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince, and John Collins are all capable floor-spacers. Steve Jones noted the team has worked on more offensive movement, using pindowns and flares to create better looks. The goal is to leverage the defensive attention Cunningham draws and make quicker decisions. This should open driving lanes and create more room for Duren on the roll and Thompson on his cuts.
Detroit was busy reshaping its supporting cast. They drafted Ebuka Okorie (17th overall) and Ugonna Onyenso (53rd overall). Key signings included re-upping Kevin Huerter on a three-year, $27 million deal and bringing in John Collins for three years and $51 million. Javonte Green also returned on a one-year contract.
The most significant financial commitments were extensions for homegrown talent. Ausar Thompson signed a five-year, $155 million deal, and Jalen Duren inked a five-year, $200 million extension after some protracted negotiations. The team also traded for shooters Isaiah Joe from the Thunder and Taurean Prince and Gary Harris from the Bucks. Departures included Isaiah Stewart (traded to Memphis), Tobias Harris (signed with San Antonio), and Caris LeVert (traded to Milwaukee).
Despite the new contract, questions linger about Jalen Duren's consistency and playoff performance. He has shown All-NBA ability but has also had stretches of inconsistency. More concerning is his history of shrinking in the postseason for two consecutive years. If that trend continues, it becomes a major problem for a team with championship aspirations. The potential for frustration from his contract talks to spill into the season is another minor worry.
Fantasy analyst Dan Titus points to Ausar Thompson as a potential breakout star, citing his growing offensive confidence beyond his known defensive stats. Thompson's average draft position is climbing as a result. The team's defensive rating, which was second in the league last year, might slip with a more offensive-minded roster. But the trade-off should be a more potent and fluid half-court attack.
The immediate focus is the season opener against the Celtics on October 20 at Little Caesars Arena. The preseason offered mixed results, with wins over the Raptors (129-125 on Oct. 16), Minnesota Timberwolves (128-106 on Oct. 14), and Phoenix Suns (109-107 on Oct. 5), plus a loss to the Washington Wizards (114-108 on Oct. 10).
The early schedule is tough, with a road game at the Miami Heat on October 23 following the Celtics opener. How quickly the new shooters integrate and whether Duren can dominate from opening night will set the tone for Detroit's campaign.
