If you had to name the two biggest surprises in the NBA this season, they would be the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns, but for different reasons.
The Pistons are exceeding all expectations after winning 14 games last season, as they are seven games above .500 in March and sitting firmly in the 6th seed, just a game back from the 4th.
The Suns, who have the highest payroll in the NBA, have gone the other way, and are currently five games below .500 and four games behind the Mavericks for the final play-in spot.
There has been plenty of drama in the Valley of the Sun, as Kevin Durant made it clear he wasn’t happy the Suns shopped him at the trade deadline without his knowledge.
There were also reports that Devin Booker was asked by coach Mike Budenholzer to tone down his vocal leadership style, a strange request given where they are.
It’s all leading up to an interesting summer for both teams.
Detroit Pistons roster: Will they add a big name?
Even Trajan Langdon has to be shocked at how well his offseason moves have panned out in Detroit, as players once viewed as stopgaps have become a huge part of their success.
Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr., went from expiring contracts we thought could be traded at the deadline to guys the Pistons may want to bring back.
Same with Tobias Harris, whose big expiring contract was once viewed as a trade asset for next summer, but may have solidified himself as part of the future beyond that instead.
With Jaden Ivey set to return at some point, likely next season, the Pistons may ask themselves if they really need to make a move for a star, especially considering Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II should continue to improve, potentially giving Detroit the second star they need.
The counter argument is that the Pistons aren’t that far away from contention, and adding the right complementary star next to Cade Cunningham could be the thing that gets them there.
Enter the Phoenix Suns.
Will the Suns blow it up?
Shams Charania recently reported that the Suns will look to trade Kevin Durant in the summer and will “work together” with their star to find a suitable home, with 4-6 contenders expected to be in the running.
Reporting for ESPN NBA Countdown on the Suns, Kevin Durant and what's at stake: pic.twitter.com/69UeeowSOP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 2, 2025
Who those teams could be is anyone’s guess, but we can expect some of the usual suspects (Lakers, Heat) as well as teams on the rise like Houston or San Antonio.
Given that Durant is 36-years-old, he’ll want to join a team that is ready to win a title now, which doesn’t necessarily rule out the Pistons.
Durant has expressed respect for Cunningham and Detroit in the past, and playing with a point guard who can get him the ball has to be atop his list of priorities. Even so, I’d be shocked if the Pistons were a realistic landing spot for Durant.
But if the Suns are really going to send Durant to a team of his choice, it limits their options and possibly the return they will get for the star. Most of the contenders don’t have the kind of trade package the Suns will need to get, and it’s possible we’ll see Durant moved for far less than past trades.
At that point, what happens with Devin Booker? Are the Suns going to build around him or will he too be shopped? This is where the Pistons could get involved, as Booker may be intrigued by the idea of playing with an up-and-coming team with a great point guard in his home state. The Pistons should have control of all of their future draft picks and have the type of young talent and expiring contracts the Suns would likely seek.
If the Suns fail to go on a miraculous playoff run this season, we can expect plenty of drama in Phoenix and the offseason will likely revolve around their choices.