Projecting what the Pistons' starting lineup might realistically look like in 2026
Trajan Langdon took over as president of basketball operations of the Detroit Pistons, a team that has been bad forever and has an impatient fanbase that wants to see some wins.
That might have put pressure on him to make rash moves, but Langdon stood his ground and took a measured approach to the offseason, adding shooting and veterans without committing to anything long term or trading a young talent too soon.
If you look at the moves Langdon made, it appears he hopes to be good within two years, as he didn’t sign any contracts beyond that. By that time, the young players will have developed (or not), he’ll know exactly what he has and he’ll have a ton of cap space to work with in trades or free agency.
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This could be a very good roster by 2026 if everything falls into place.
Things that should happen for the Pistons in the next two years
There is no guarantee that any of this happens, but here are some predictions about what could happen in Detroit over the next two seasons:
-Jaden Ivey will be traded.
Ivey could have a breakout season and end up as part of this core, but as of right now, if I had to guess which young player won’t be with the Pistons on his next contract, it’s Ivey. He arguably has the most trade value of anyone not named Cade and drafting Ron Holland II might have put the gears in motion.
-Several Pistons’ players will leave in free agency or trades
The Pistons currently only have five players under contract for the 2026-27 season, and three of those are non-guaranteed player options. Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., Paul Reed and Simone Fontecchio will all be gone in free agency or traded by the beginning of the 2026-27 season, so the Pistons will have either replaced them in trades or they will have left in free agency.
-The Pistons will make a move for a star
Langdon has set up this team for a big trade at some point over the next two seasons, as he has tradable expiring contracts, young players and cap space to work with.
-Detroit will have added at least one more top draft pick
The Pistons should improve next season, but it’s hard to see them making the playoffs, especially if there were to flip the expiring contracts of Beasley and THJ at the deadline and go into “player development” mode in the second half of the season. Detroit’s 2025 pick is protected 1-13, so they will likely keep it and add one more high-profile draft pick to the roster. Who knows, maybe karma will finally bless them for playing hard and they’ll get lucky like Atlanta did this year by actually trying to compete but still getting a top pick.
Whether it’s through the addition of a star in a trade or just another young draft pick, the Pistons could have a loaded starting five. Let’s start with the possibilities in the draft.