Pistons trade rumors, updates and NBA free agency news
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The Detroit Pistons had a busy past week during the NBA Draft, making three trades and two draft picks.
They sent away Isaiah Stewart, drafted Ebuka Okorie at No. 17 overall and Ugonna Onyenso at No. 53, and traded for Isaiah Joe.
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Now comes 2026 NBA free agency, one day away.
The Pistons can operate as an over-the-cap team and retain the ability to re-sign multiple free agents, and have access to the non-taxpayer $15 million mid-level exception (up to a four-year deal worth $64.7 million). Or they could go the less likely cap space route, which would entail other moves, such as trading Caris LeVert into cap space for picks, waiving Duncan Robinson and renouncing their Early Bird rights on Tobias Harris.
Jalen Duren (restricted) and Harris (unrestricted) are their most important free agents.
Here are the latest Pistons NBA rumors and ahead of free agency, which begins Tuesday, June 30, at 6 p.m. ET.
Kawhi Leonard trade rumors
- Date: Sunday, June 28.
- Source:The Athletic, The Stein Line.
The Pistons during the draft were mentioned as a team to watch on the Kawhi Leonard trade front, should he and the Clippers entertain a parting. Leonard is on a $50.3 million expiring deal. Since then, it was reported Leonard would not be interested in extending with the Pistons, likely taking them out of the pursuit, The Stein Line reported.
On Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks emerged as the favorite to acquire Leonard for a package to include P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and picks. The Mavs are led by new president Masai Ujiri, who was the Toronto Raptors top executive when they traded for Leonard in 2018 – and won the NBA title the next season. (The Mavs, of course, just hired Michigan's Dusty May as coach.) The Raptors are also in the mix to reclaim Leonard, with Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reporting they have had "real trade conversations this weekend" with Los Angeles.
Pistons next move in NBA free agency?
Several potential fits for the Pistons have already agreed to new deals with their teams. Austin Reaves re-signed with the Lakers with a potential Pistons max offer looming, Ayo Dosunmu re-signed with the Timberwolves and Coby White re-signed with the Hornets. So who is left?
The Pistons still have a need at power forward, as they lack one on the current roster. They could bring back Tobias Harris, they could swing another trade or do both.
Top free agents who could be a match include Heat guard Norman Powell, Lakers power forward Rui Hachimura, Clippers power forward John Collins and a Lakers forward you've probably heard of ... LeBron James – though the Pistons would probably need to open up cap space to get James, if the league's all-time leading scorer were at all amenable to Detroit.
Trade market buzz includes Celtics wing Jaylen Brown and Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III. Bucks guard Tyler Herro could also be revisited by the Pistons, though Friday's savvy trade for Isaiah Joe helps solve their shooting need.
Pistons depth chart entering free agency
Here's an early look at the Pistons' depth chart entering free agency. For this exercise, we'll assume Jalen Duren re-signs, Tolu Smith's team option is picked up (becomes nonguaranteed) and second-round pick Ugonna Onyenso is signed to a two-way deal, meaning the Pistons would have two open roster spots.
- Point guards: Cade Cunningham, Daniss Jenkins, Ebuka Okorie.
- Off-ball guards: Isaiah Joe, Marcus Sasser, Chaz Lanier.
- Wings: Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, Ron Holland.
- Power forwards: None.
- Centers: Jalen Duren, Paul Reed, Tolu Smith.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons trade rumors, updates and NBA free agency news