The NBA trade season is finally here. The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and the Julius Randle deal kicked things off on Monday night, setting up an exciting 2026 NBA Draft. The Detroit Pistons, expected to be one of the most aggressive teams of the offseason, are engaged in trade discussions heading into the draft.
Desperately looking to add more shooting and playmaking, the Pistons need to part ways with a few of their veterans to make their offseason moves. This signals the end of the road for a couple of valuable Pistons.
Isaiah Stewart
Unfortunately, Stewart's time in Detroit may be coming to an end soon. The Pistons' fan favorite is one of the more beloved members of the team, but he needs to be the sacrifice if Detroit is to upgrade the roster this offseason.
When the Pistons have an overqualified third-string center in Paul Reed who makes one-third of Stewart's salary, it becomes difficult to justify keeping Stewart in Detroit. Moving Beef Stew elsewhere and using his salary slot on an offense-first perimeter player is a better use of resources.
The 25-year-old big man has decent trade value and should allow the Pistons to get back a good player or draft capital with upside. This trade may come as soon as today.
Caris LeVert
The veteran guard isn't too far behind in terms of the likelihood of getting traded. His $14.8 million expiring salary is an attractive trade chip. The 31-year-old was a fine backup for Detroit in his first season, but he certainly didn't live up to the expectations. The Pistons can do better for a similar salary by attaching a first-round pick or two to LeVert.
If the Pistons are trading for a starter like Trey Murphy, the package will likely include Stewart, LeVert, and draft capital. LeVert's contract is the best way for the Pistons to match salaries in most deals, making him a prime trade candidate.
Ron Holland
This one is admittedly less likely than the previous two names. The Pistons have largely been adamant in their unwillingness to give up on Holland just yet. The only way Detroit moves on from Holland is if he is the sticking point in a trade for a star. One has to imagine that if Holland is the only thing standing between the Pistons and acquiring Kyrie Irving, Detroit would have to part ways with the soon-to-be 21-year-old.
Whether this is the right move, however, is another question. Holland is a questionable fit on a team that has Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. A third non-shooter is very difficult to play next to those two, and since Thompson and Duren aren't going anywhere, Holland's playing time will continue to be limited.
This will only lower his trade value going forward. Instead of keeping him in a small bench role, the Pistons would be better off using him as a trade chip. For the right opportunity, perhaps this will be the case, but Holland is firmly behind Stewart and LeVert on the list of most likely Pistons trade candidates.
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