The Detroit Pistons are assembling a new-look roster ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, making multiple rotational upgrades after a challenging playoff exit. With training camp approaching, players like Paul Reed, Daniss Jenkins, and Ron Holland II are already back in the gym.
Detroit's front office was busy this summer. They added veterans John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince, and Gary Harris via trades. The draft brought in Ebuka Okorie and Ugonna Onyenso, while Elijah Harkless joined on a two-way contract. These moves directly address a clear need for better perimeter shooting, which became a problem during the playoffs. Both Collins and Joe are younger than the players they're replacing, Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert, and bring legitimate postseason experience.
Joe is a sharper three-point shooter than LeVert ever was in Detroit. Collins offers an inside-out dynamic as a stretch four with serious leaping ability. Their arrivals, however, mean saying goodbye to important locker room voices. Harris and Isaiah Stewart were instrumental in building the team's culture, so developing new chemistry will be a process. The team will need to figure out how Collins replaces Harris's trusted mid-range game and how they defend the paint without Stewart's presence.
Two major issues stand out. First, the unresolved restricted free agency of All-NBA center Jalen Duren is a lingering concern that has taken longer than expected. Second, the roster construction has drawn some external skepticism. One analysis suggested the swaps of Harris for Collins and LeVert for Joe represent a moderate downgrade and that the Pistons failed to get significant scoring and playmaking help for star guard Cade Cunningham.
Internally, the team is more optimistic. The primary goal was to fix the shooting woes that plagued them, particularly in their playoff series against Cleveland. That series saw close games, like a 113-117 loss on May 14, 2026, but ended decisively.
It will take live game action to find out. The returning core, including Reed, Jenkins, and Holland, is coming off a 60-win regular season and a second-round playoff appearance. They know the standard. The new players aren't just shooters; they're battle-tested. This should help as Detroit aims for another deep playoff run. The early gym work is a positive sign. Seeing veterans and rookies working out together before camp even starts shows a commitment to getting up to speed fast.
The Central Division remains tough. But the Pistons believe their calculated moves have made them a different, and potentially more dangerous, team. The focus is now on turning paper upgrades into on-court production when the new campaign tips off.
