Pistons look to NBA Draft as an opportunity
Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon talks about the upcoming NBA Draft on June 18, 2026 in Detroit.
Detroit — Since taking over as president of basketball operations, Trajan Langdon has been extremely strategic in building the Pistons’ roster. His work over the last two years has resulted in one of the best turnarounds in league history, going from a team that won just 14 games in 2024 to 60 wins this past season.
This summer, Langdon will be tasked with revamping a roster to meet high expectations for the 2026-27 campaign. Considering the team’s shortcomings in the postseason, Langdon emphasized the importance of adding shooting and ball-handling skills.
He also mentioned that while the Pistons are open to exploring various options in trades and free agency, the team is not willing to part with substantial assets to acquire new talent. Keeping Langdon’s perspective in mind, Pistons beat writer Coty M. Davis analyzes five players the Pistons could target this offseason to address their needs.
▶ Tyler Herro, Miami Heat (secondary scoring and creation hub)
During his pre-draft availability on Thursday, Langdon hinted that the Pistons might act as a third team to facilitate a trade. With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s impending departure from the Milwaukee Bucks, many believe the Pistons could be involved in the trade talks. As a result, there are rumblings linking Detroit to Herro, especially if the Heat manage to acquire Antetokounmpo.
Herro exemplifies nearly everything the Pistons seek to enhance their offensive production. He is an All-Star scorer capable of excelling at all levels, making him the ideal co-star for Cade Cunningham. Since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2019, Herro has been one of the best 3-point shooters, shooting 38.2% for his career while averaging 19.5 points across 394 games.
Over the past three seasons, Herro has developed into a solid secondary creator with his facilitation, which could help bring more ball-handling and playmaking to Detroit’s offense. He has one year and $33 million left on his contract for next season, indicating that acquiring Herro will not negatively affect the Pistons’ financial flexibility.
▶ Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans (3-and-D elitist)
Murphy is at the top of many fans’ wish lists. The primary reason for interest in Murphy is his status as one of the NBA’s best 3-and-D players.
This past season, Murphy averaged a career-best 21.5 points while shooting 37.9% from behind the arc. He’s a reliable secondary scorer whose offensive attributes are ideal, as he doesn’t need the ball to be effective. He also shot 42.6% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, which would fit well in the Pistons’ offensive system.
At 6-foot-8, Murphy can guard multiple positions and possesses the same energy and hustle that fit the Pistons’ defensive identity. Murphy averaged 1.5 steals per game this past season and registered 24 total blocks. The only concern regarding Murphy, who has three years remaining on his contract, is that he will be the most costly player for the Pistons to acquire. The Pelicans still view the 26-year-old forward as one of their core players, and it will take a lofty trade package for them to move on from him.
▶ Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings (secondary scoring option)
Since his 51-point performance at Little Caesars Arena in October 2023, the Pistons have been linked to LaVine in trade rumors for the past three years, and it’s easy to see why.
LaVine has the talent to be a reliable secondary scoring option alongside Cunningham, and depending on the matchup, he can take the lead as Detroit’s primary scorer. The two-time All-Star is still one of the most efficient three-level scorers the league has to offer. In what was considered a down year with the 60-loss Kings, LaVine averaged 19.2 points while shooting 47.9% from the field and 39% from deep.
Considering that the Kings are prepared to hit the reset button for the umpteenth time in the last 20 years, Sacramento’s management may be in dire need of moving on from LaVine’s expiring $49 million salary for the upcoming season. Any team that trades for him would need to be willing to commit to that financial obligation.
For the Pistons, acquiring LaVine at that price would be for only one year and would not impede their financial flexibility in the future. It’s also important to note that the Kings’ willingness to move on from LaVine would make him one of the most affordable players to acquire in a trade.
▶ Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks (3-point shooting specialist)
The Mavericks are committed to building around Rookie of the Year winner Cooper Flagg and could move Thompson for a pair of second-round draft picks and perhaps a young prospect who hasn’t cracked Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation.
At 36 years old, Thompson may not be the same player he was with the Golden State Warriors. But even in the later stages of his career, he continues to demonstrate why he is regarded as one of the greatest shooters in league history.
Thompson played in 69 games this past season, averaging 11.7 points and knocking down 202 3-pointers at a 38.3% clip. His addition would boost the Pistons’ bench production while improving the team’s floor spacing, which has become Detroit’s most desired attribute to add this offseason.
Thompson had 25 games this season in which he made four or more 3s. His best performance came during the Mavericks’ 115-114 loss to the Orlando Magic in March, when he registered a season-high seven deep balls. In addition, Thomson’s contract will not pose financial challenges for the Pistons and will allow them to keep their flexibility. He is scheduled to earn $17.4 million for the upcoming season under an expiring deal.
▶ Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards (honorable mention)
Before being traded to the Wizards, Davis was heavily linked to the Pistons in trade rumors. The general public was opposed to Davis joining the Pistons because of his injury history. Even I was against the idea, but it’s hard to argue that the 10-time All-Star wouldn’t have been a difference-maker in the postseason.
Davis remains one of the most productive two-way players in the league, excelling at protecting the paint while being a big who can play both inside and outside on offense. Wizards president Michael Winger recently shut down rumors about Davis’ unwillingness to stay in Washington. Given the uncertainty surrounding his tenure, it would not be surprising if Davis, who has two years left on his contract, is on the move before the start of next season.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
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