The Detroit Pistons entered the 2026 NBA Playoffs facing the same criticism as they heard before the trade deadline. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren are All-Star talents, but the lack of shot creation depth was destined to overburden them and create a virtually nonexistent margin for error.
As CJ McCollum thrives for the Atlanta Hawks, the Pistons have thus been presented with a simple question: Why in the world didn't they make a move for the veteran guard?
McCollum, 34, was traded to the Hawks on Jan. 9 as a part of the deal that sent Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Though Young is a big name, it was a relatively low-level return for a multi-time All-Star, as the outgoing package from Washington was limited to McCollum and Corey Kispert.
With this in mind, one can't help but feel as though the Pistons could've made a competitive offer for a player who would've resolved their most pressing issue.
Cunningham turned in an All-NBA worthy campaign in 2025-26 as the Pistons' lead guard. He averaged 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 2.0 three-point field goals made, leading Detroit in both points and assists per game.
For as impressive as that may be, the Pistons' next-leading guards were Ausar Thompson at 9.9 points per game and Daniss Jenkins at 3.9 assists per contest—painfully insufficient production.
CJ McCollum would've been the perfect player to fix Pistons' biggest flaw
McCollum is a 13-year veteran who has spent the past 11 seasons scoring and creating at a star-caliber level. The Wizards' underwhelming team success clouded judgment in regard to what he could offer to a contender, however, and he was thus overlooked in most circles.
As McCollum decimates the New York Knicks and gives the Hawks a realistic shot at an upset, however, the Pistons are left needing a player with his exact skill set.
That unfortunate reality reared its head during the Pistons' Game 1 loss to the Orlando Magic. Cunningham posted 39 points and a team-high four assists, but only one other player on the roster scored even 10 points: Tobias Harris, who had 17 on 5-of-15 shooting.
McCollum, meanwhile, posted 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting during Atlanta's Game 1 loss to New York, and had 32 points and six assists on 12-of-22 shooting during its Game 2 win.
CJ McCollum averaging 29.0 PPG through two playoff games in 2026
It's not an entirely surprising development, as he averaged 18.7 points per game on .455/.375/.772 shooting during the regular season. McCollum also shot 50.4 percent on 10.3 drives per game and buried an at least respectable 36.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes.
For perspective, the Pistons' next three leading players in drives per game after Cunningham all shot 43.9 percent or worse in said scenarios.
Detroit attempted to improve, of course, swapping Jaden Ivey for Kevin Huerter and a 2026 first-round pick swap. Unfortunately, Huerter played just 18 minutes and shot 1-of-3 from the field during the Pistons' 2026 postseason opener.
Trading for McCollum would've admittedly been a challenging pursuit, but the Pistons would've been an entirely different force on offense had they found a way to do so.
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