The Detroit Pistons are reportedly interested in Tyler Herro as a potential backcourt partner for Cade Cunningham. On the surface, it's a polarizing pursuit that could see Detroit bring in a subpar defender who doesn't necessarily fit their culture and ideology.
Beneath the surface, however, Herro is actually a logical player for the Pistons to target, as they may be the best team possible for him to end up with.
Herro is a 26-year-old shooting guard who has proven capable of scoring, facilitating, and shooting at borderline star-caliber levels. In just seven seasons, he's also amassed 50 games of postseason experience—30 more than Cunningham has through five.
According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Detroit believes Herro can unlock Cunningham and the Pistons' potential as a potential trade target.
"Now the Pistons must pursue others on their list, with three players previously identified by The Stein Line still believed to be available: Milwaukee-bound Tyler Herro, Miami unrestricted free agent-to-be Norm Powell and Oklahoma City's Isaiah Joe.
Stein and Fischer continued:
"Sources say that the Pistons have maintained an interest in Herro all along. The messaging that has emanated from Milwaukee all week has suggested that offers would not be discouraged but also that the Bucks likewise have interest in retaining the Milwaukee native and former All-Star."
Herro has his flaws, but for a Pistons team that needs a player with his exact skill set, there's far less risk involved than advertised.
Tyler Herro isn't quite as risky a target as Pistons critics suggest
The red flags are simple: Herro has been inefficient during the playoffs and has been targeted on defense. The context, however, is that he's been miscast in recent years, as Miami simply lacked a high-volume No. 1 option and thus had Herro playing above his means.
In Detroit, however, Herro would play a complementary offensive role alongside Cunningham and could thus thrive in a situation that suits him—on an expiring contract, no less.
Herro is preparing to enter the final season of his current contract. He'll make $33 million before entering unrestricted free agency in 2027. In other words: If the Pistons trade for Herro but it doesn't work out, they can cut ties, create cap space, and pursue a better fit as soon as the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
Even if Detroit can't find a suitor for Herro's expiring deal at the deadline, they can let him walk and start anew with no real loss incurred beyond what they traded for him—and the price shouldn't be all that steep. If it is, then the Pistons can abandon this trade before it happens.
Offensively, Tyler Herro is everything Cade Cunningham needs
In terms of what he brings to the table on the court, Herro is everything Cunningham needs on offense. He's a skilled dribble penetrator who can get inside and finish, an effective three-point shooter who can play with or without the ball, and an ideal secondary playmaker with a proven track record of success.
Over the past five seasons, Herro has compiled averages of 21.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.0 three-point field goals made per game on .455/.384/.888 shooting.
Herro has averaged at least 10.0 drives per game in each of the past five seasons. He's shot at least 51.6 percent on drives during each of the past four. For perspective: No Pistons player other than Cunningham averaged more than 7.5 drives per game in 2025-26.
More importantly, of Detroit's four leading players in drives per game, only Cunningham shot better than 43.9 percent on drives.
Yes, there is risk, but the reward exceeds it
Furthermore, Herro shot 37.3 percent on catch-and-shoot threes and 38.6 percent on pull-up threes in 2025-26. It was the first time in his career that he'd shot below 38.3 percent in catch-and-shoot situations—and the context is that he missed 49 games due to injury.
In other words: Herro can drive better than any current Piston other than Cunningham and shoots at a level that should appeal to a team that ranked No. 18 in catch-and-shoot three-point efficiency. Isaiah Joe should help in that regard, but he can't do it alone.
Just in: The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons for two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rHf0VHp7k0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2026
There is obviously risk involved in the Pistons trading for a player who's known to struggle as an isolation defender. Even with Cunningham and Ausar Thompson alongside him, Herro could have trouble as teams attempt to isolate him.
If Duncan Robinson is proof of anything, however, it's that the Pistons have the personnel and system to incorporate a high-level offensive player who struggles on defense without losing ground.
Trading for Herro should thus be viewed through one single lens: How much would it cost to do so? If the Pistons can pull off a trade for a reasonable price, then it would be a worthwhile investment in an offensive player who could take a significant amount of pressure off of Cunningham from day one.
Herro has his flaws, but offensively, he offers a skill set that no Piston other than Cunningham even comes close to being able to provide.
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