Detroit Pistons News

EASTERN CENTRAL

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren Dominates in His Preseason Debut

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren scored 24 points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out one assist in 15 minutes during his first preseason action. After negotiating a new contract ahead of training camp, Duren made his preseason debut, and it didn't disappoint. He shot 89% from the field (8/9) and led the team in scoring in the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Duren signed a five-year, $200 million deal in early October and, despite not practicing with the team for most of training camp, looks ready for opening night against the Boston Celtics. Fantasy managers should expect Duren to be a top-end center option in the 2026-27 season as he looks to follow up his All-Star-caliber season in 2025-26.

6 days ago

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren Expected to Suit Up in Preseason

Hunter Patterson of The Athletic reports that Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is expected to suit up at some point this preseason. The 22-year-old big man recently agreed to a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed contract to return to the Motor City, ending a prolonged restricted free agency standoff. Duren came into his own in 2025-26, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65.0 percent shooting in 70 starts. With Isaiah Stewart dealt to Memphis in June, Duren should face little competition for center minutes, as John Collins projects as the main frontcourt alternative. His next chance to take the floor is on Saturday against the Wizards.

Oct 7

Ausar Thompson • SF • Pistons

Ausar Thompson Could See Expanded Playing Time

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson is expected to play more than 26 minutes per game this season, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said an increased workload is "the expectation," though Detroit may manage those minutes differently because of everything Thompson is asked to do. The 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 26.0 minutes last season, leading the NBA in steals per game. That bigger workload already showed up in the playoffs, when Thompson played 30.5 minutes per game and averaged 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. If Detroit keeps him closer to that range, his defense should carry even more fantasy weight. The tradeoff is still at the line, where he shot just 57.1 percent last season.

Oct 2

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren Agrees to Five-Year, $200 Million Deal with Pistons

All-NBA center Jalen Duren has agreed to a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed contract to return to the Detroit Pistons, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The deal ends a prolonged restricted free agency standoff just before his $9.6 million qualifying offer expired. The 22-year-old broke out in 2025-26, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 starts. With Isaiah Stewart traded to Memphis in June, Duren should face little competition for center minutes, as John Collins projects as the main frontcourt alternative. That makes him a points, rebounds, and field-goal percentage anchor, even with just 0.8 blocks per game. The bigger question is whether Duren can sustain his scoring after it slipped to 10.2 points per game in the playoffs.

Oct 2

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren Skips Pistons Media Day

Restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren skipped Monday's media day and will miss the start of Detroit Pistons training camp as contract negotiations remain stalled, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 22-year-old has yet to accept Detroit's fully guaranteed five-year, $200 million offer and faces a Thursday deadline on his one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer. Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 games last season while earning All-NBA Third Team honors. If the standoff continues, Paul Reed could see a sizable increase in center minutes after averaging 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes last season.

Sep 28

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren Expected to Miss Pistons Media Day

Restricted free agent center Jalen Duren is expected to miss Monday's media day as contract negotiations with the Detroit Pistons remain stalled, according to Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. The 22-year-old has until Oct. 1 to accept a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer after Detroit offered him a fully guaranteed five-year, $200 million deal. Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65.0 percent shooting last season while earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors. With Isaiah Stewart now in Memphis, an extended Duren absence could push Paul Reed into a much larger role after he averaged 10.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks when playing at least 10 minutes last season.

Sep 27

Cade Cunningham • PG • Pistons

Cade Cunningham Aims to Build on MVP-Caliber Season

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham enters 2026-27 looking to build on a season that saw him finish fifth in MVP voting. The former No. 1 pick averaged 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks across 64 games while leading Detroit to a 60-22 record. His 13-point, 5-for-16 showing in the Game 7 loss to Cleveland showed there is still room for growth as a scorer. Detroit added much-needed shooting in Isaiah Joe and John Collins, which should give Cunningham more space to operate and keep him among fantasy basketball's top playmakers.

Sep 24

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren Weighs Pistons' $200 Million Offer

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren remains at an impasse with the team despite Detroit increasing its offer to five years and $200 million, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Charania added that Duren's attendance at media day and training camp is "highly up in the air and questionable." The 22-year-old earned his first All-Star selection and All-NBA Third Team honors after averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65.0 percent shooting last season. If the standoff carries into camp, Paul Reed would be positioned for increased center minutes, with John Collins also capable of absorbing more frontcourt work.

Sep 21

Ausar Thompson • SF • Pistons

Ausar Thompson Agrees to Five-Year Extension with Pistons

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson has agreed to a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale extension, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The fully guaranteed deal follows a season in which Thompson earned All-Defensive First Team honors and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks across 73 games while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. His 6-for-24 mark from three and 57.1 percent free-throw shooting remain fantasy concerns, but Thompson's elite steals production gives him considerable value even without much scoring. More minutes would only raise his defensive-stat ceiling.

Sep 18

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren Weighs $9.6 Million Qualifying Offer

Restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren has turned down a five-year offer in the $190 million range from the Detroit Pistons and is seriously considering his $9.6 million qualifying offer, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson. Taking that route would put the 22-year-old on track for unrestricted free agency in 2027, with Sacramento reportedly among three serious suitors. Duren is still expected to open as Detroit's starting center if he returns, and the fantasy case remains strong after he averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks on 65.0 percent shooting in 28.2 minutes last season. He earned All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors, and Isaiah Stewart's move to Memphis leaves Paul Reed as the main backup center. A qualifying-offer season would add trade-deadline risk, but Duren's boards, efficiency, and expanded-minute upside remain strong.

Sep 12

Paul Reed • PF • Pistons

Paul Reed Primed for Expanded Role with Pistons

Detroit Pistons forward/center Paul Reed is in line for a more featured role as the team's backup big this season, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. Patterson views Detroit's decision to trade Isaiah Stewart to Memphis as a vote of confidence in Reed, who earned the promotion in the playoffs. The former G-League MVP forced his way into the rotation against Cleveland in the second round, averaging 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in roughly 13 minutes per game while going 24-for-34 from the field. With Stewart's 22.7 minutes a night now up for grabs, Reed's 61.7 percent shooting from last season and his knack for steals and blocks give him legitimate late-round appeal. His value could climb even higher if restricted free agent Jalen Duren's contract standoff drags into training camp.

Sep 10

Ron Holland II • SF • Pistons

Ron Holland II Rebuilding His Jump Shot This Offseason

Detroit Pistons forward Ron Holland II has spent the offseason working to become more of a perimeter threat, Roundtable's Eric Rutter reports. The former No. 5 pick shot just 25.3 percent from three last season, and the spacing issue followed him into the playoffs, where his role collapsed and he picked up multiple DNPs. Holland still averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes across 78 regular-season games, so the defensive profile remains useful. The problem is the crowd. Detroit added Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince, and Gary Harris this summer, while Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter are already in the shooting mix. Holland has the tools to force his way into minutes, but until the jumper shows up in games, he is more of a camp monitor than a draft-day target.

Sep 9

Ron Holland II • SF • Pistons

Ron Holland II in Line for Bigger Role with Detroit

Detroit Pistons forward Ron Holland II should have a more pronounced role next season, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. The opening is partly defensive after Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis in June, but the bigger fantasy swing comes on offense. Patterson notes that Detroit needs either Holland or Ausar Thompson to become a more reliable scoring piece, leaving Holland with a cleaner path if his jumper and handle take a step. The 21-year-old averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes across 78 games last season, including five starts. The defensive stats are useful, but his 25.3 percent three-point shooting keeps the ceiling shaky. John Collins and Taurean Prince give J.B. Bickerstaff veteran alternatives, so Holland is a camp name to track rather than a locked-in fantasy target.

Sep 8

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Kings Eyeing Jalen Duren in 2027 Free Agency

ESPN's Anthony Slater reports that Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry met with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren in early July and explored a sign-and-trade concept involving Domantas Sabonis. Detroit balked at losing Duren for Sabonis, leaving the Kings with no clean path unless Duren accepts his $9.6 million qualifying offer and reaches unrestricted free agency in 2027. The 22-year-old is coming off an All-Star, Third-Team All-NBA season, averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 starts. His 2026-27 fantasy outlook stays tied to Detroit for now, where he projects as the starting center if he re-signs or plays on the qualifying offer. Sacramento's interest says more about Domantas Sabonis' uncertain future than Duren's immediate fantasy outlook.

Sep 3

Paul Reed • PF • Pistons

Pistons Guarantee Paul Reed's Salary for 2026-27

The Detroit Pistons fully guaranteed center Paul Reed's $5.6 million salary for the 2026-27 season, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Reed's backup-center path looks cleaner after Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis, and Jalen Duren remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. Reed averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes across 65 games last season, but his per-minute production popped when Detroit needed more. He averaged 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 13.0 minutes over five second-round games against Cleveland, shooting 24-for-34 from the field, and the Pistons went 8-3 in his 11 starts. If Duren signs, Reed is a useful reserve. If Duren's talks drag, Reed could open camp with a real minutes bump.

Sep 2

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Pistons Rule Out Sign-and-Trade Offers for Jalen Duren

Restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren remains firmly in Detroit's plans, with ESPN's Tim MacMahon reporting on The Hoop Collective that the Pistons have told rival teams they are "absolutely positively 100 percent" committed to keeping him. Any team pursuing a sign-and-trade is wasting its time, per MacMahon, leaving Duren nearly two months into an unresolved standoff with Detroit. The first-time All-Star averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.8 blocks on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 games last season. Duren became eligible for a five-year max worth $287.1 million after earning All-NBA honors, while Jake Fischer has pointed to a possible four-year deal around $160 million. The contract noise should not knock him down fantasy boards. Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis and has Paul Reed as the main center depth behind Duren, so the minutes and volume are waiting. The main risk is Duren taking the roughly $9.6 million qualifying offer and playing out a lame-duck year.

Aug 30

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren Likely to Get Deal Exceeding $160 Million

According to Jake Fischer, free-agent center Jalen Duren is expected to re-sign with the Detroit Pistons for upwards of $160 million. It's no surprise that Duren is likely to receive a massive extension from the Pistons. It sounds like Duren could potentially sign a four-year deal that nets him more than $160 million over the life of the deal. Duren has shown he is worth the money with his play on the court over the last few seasons. This past season, Duren averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 28.2 minutes per game across 70 games with the Pistons. He's a core piece to this roster that the Pistons cannot afford to lose right now. He's the best free agent still available, but is fully expected to return to Detroit; however, the amount of money he'll get is unknown.

Aug 25

Isaiah Joe • SG • Pistons

Isaiah Joe Brings Title Experience to Pistons Bench

Detroit Pistons guard Isaiah Joe is the only current player on the roster with an NBA championship on his resume, as Caden Handwork of SI noted. Joe won the 2025 title with Oklahoma City before Detroit acquired him from the Thunder for two second-round picks, giving the Pistons another proven shooter around Cade Cunningham. The 27-year-old averaged a career-best 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.5 threes while shooting 42.3 percent from deep last season. Joe still profiles as a bench specialist, so his fantasy value is tied mostly to triples unless Detroit gives him steady closing minutes.

Aug 25

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Jalen Duren's Contract Negotiation Get Messy

Restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren remains unsigned as extension talks with the Detroit Pistons drag on. ESPN's Tim MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective that he did not know whether Duren would sign an extension, calling the situation "an awfully nasty negotiation." At the same time, Marc Stein has reported that Duren could still play on his $9.6 million qualifying offer. The 22-year-old averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 70 games last season before slipping to 10.2 points and 8.5 boards in the playoffs. Detroit has continued to brush aside sign-and-trade scenarios, so Duren's fantasy outlook is still tied to a likely return as the Pistons' starting center next to Cade Cunningham. The contract noise is real, but the role remains strong enough to keep him valuable for points, rebounds, field-goal percentage and blocks.

Aug 22

Cade Cunningham • PG • Pistons

Cade Cunningham Praises Pistons' Frontcourt Upgrade

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is excited about the team's offseason addition of John Collins, telling ClutchPoints' DJ Siddiqi that he and Collins are "excited to get on the court together." Collins joined Detroit on a three-year, $51 million deal after averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds with the Clippers while shooting a career-best 40.6 percent from three. The fit is easy to see for Cunningham, who averaged 9.9 assists last season and now gets another athletic frontcourt target. Detroit also added Isaiah Joe to boost its spacing, giving Cunningham more help after a 60-win season ended in a Game 7 loss to Cleveland. Collins' scoring may stay modest, but his shooting and lob-finishing put him back in the fantasy conversation.

Aug 11

Detroit Pistons News

LEGEND