The Pistons are still searching for their long-term shooting guard next to Cade Cunningham, even after they had the chance to secure one in 2025. Last summer, Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit the open market as a free agent and the Pistons missed out on signing him. Losing him to the Hawks hurt in the moment, but looks even worse today after his Most Improved Player campaign and Detroit's lingering hole at his position.
Detroit lost out in a big way last offseason
Alexander-Walker headlined a relatively weak free agent class last summer, which is a trend we've continued to see under the current CBA. He was coming off some solid years in Minnesota where he focused on defense for the Timberwolves but also had incredible efficiency on the offensive end. Even if he didn't take his current leap, his potential as a 3-and-D player was obvious.
But NAW far exceeded all expectations during his first season with the Hawks, as he doubled his scoring average to nearly 21 points per game while maintaining 46% from the field and 40% from three. He's still a strong defender, especially in key moments, but has shown all the perfect attributes of a co-star shooting guard.
Perhaps the best part of Alexander-Walker's breakout is how much it vindicated his contract. Atlanta inked him to a 4-year/$62 million deal, which seemed expensive at the time but now is some of the best value in the league. The Pistons were unwilling to match that same offer and instead ended up with Caris LeVert for 2 years and $29 million. Obviously, this left the Pistons with some mediocre options at shooting guard while NAW thrived on the Hawks.
The Pistons can't afford to repeat their mistake
Heading into the 2026 offseason, the Pistons have a chance to remedy their past offenses if they can sign someone like Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu may also ask for a contract that appears gaudy at first, but pays off quickly. Detroit is now at a point where they must be willing to spend for free agents and put the right pieces around their young core.
The Pistons already proved themselves to be a regular season juggernaut who needs a few more pieces for the playoffs. The time is now to open the pocketbooks and get Cade Cunningham the help he needs. If the Pistons are stingy again in free agency, they could be forced to rely primarily on internal growth for any major improvements.
Every championship team needs to eventually add the missing piece by making a big trade or free agency acquisition. This summer should be that time for the Pistons, so they need to be aggressive in pursuing their ideal targets even if that means handing out a big deal.
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