The Detroit Pistons need to improve this summer, and Trajan Langdon should be on the phone at all times. One of the calls he makes should be to the Orlando Magic to see if he can pry Franz Wagner away from them. Wagner would be an ideal partner to Cade Cunningham, and a three-team deal with the Brooklyn Nets could get the deal done. Wagner would ease Cunnigham's offensive burden, which was one of the biggest postseason problems this year.
In the deal, Detroit would land Wagner, and the Magic would get Michael Porter Jr., Duncan Robinson, and draft capital. Meanwhile, the Nets would receive Isaiah Stewart, Jonathan Isaac, Goga Bitadze, and draft capital. It’s unlikely, as the Magic probably don’t want to give up on their young core, but it’s at least worth making a call.
Because Cunningham and Wagner would fit together nicely in Detroit.
Pistons should call Magic about a Franz Wagner trade
Here’s the full layout of the potential trade:
Pistons receive: Franz Wagner
Magic receive: Michael Porter Jr., Duncan Robinson, 2028 first-round pick (via DET)
Nets receive: Isaiah Stewart, Jonathan Isaac, Goga Bitadze, No. 21 pick 2026 NBA Draft (via DET), 2030 first-round pick (via DET)
Few trades are perfect. And this one wouldn’t be for the Pistons. They would give up a significant amount of draft capital, and Wagner has dealt with some injury issues for the last few years.
But when he’s been on the court, Wagner has been awesome.
Plus, in this specific deal, the Pistons wouldn’t have to give up any of their core pieces aside from Stewart, whose minutes waned during this year’s playoff run anyway.
Detroit would be able to roll out a starting lineup of Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Wagner, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren next year. Not only is that lineup absolutely massive, but it’s also much improved when it comes to creating on offense.
Wagner is a capable ball-handler. He can get to the hoop, and though he’s not the best outside shooter, his offensive game would definitely help take some pressure off Cunningham.
That's the biggest sticking point in the deal: Solving Cunningham's problems. Trading for Wagner would help the Pistons on the offensive end, meaning Cunningham wouldn't have to do everything. That was one of the biggest issues Cunningham and the Pistons ran into during the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
For the Magic, this deal would see them reduce their money in the long run. They’d cut a decent amount of future salary, which could help them avoid the inevitable second-apron penalties that may come their way.
Porter and Robinson would also give the Magic a much-needed boost from behind the three-point line – an area they’ve struggled with for years.
Lastly, the Nets would get a couple of first-rounders and a decent young big man in Stewart for their troubles. They’d take on some ugly salary and trade away a near-All-Star in Porter, but they’d be compensated with picks.
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