Detroit Pistons basketball is almost back. The NBA will open the 2026-27 campaign with a Pistons-Celtics clash a week from today. After a contentious offseason, the Pistons can finally focus on the task at hand.
With a lot of East rivals getting stronger this offseason, there is a lot of doubt around the Pistons' ability to replicate last season's success. The pressure will be on Detroit to not only repeat the dominant regular season they had last year, but also go further in the postseason.
This will require a strong start to the season. In order for the Pistons to send a message to the rest of the NBA, they need to come out strong. The following three players will be very important in that regard.
Kevin Huerter
The Pistons invested in the veteran shooting guard this summer, giving him a three-year, $27 million deal. The organization believes in Huerter, even though he hasn't been consistently making shots for several seasons. For Detroit to feel good about their shooting and offensive firepower, they need Huerter to come out strong out of the gate.
Huerter will be facing stiff competition. Isaiah Joe's arrival and the investment in Ebuka Okorie threaten Huerter's minutes. With Taurean Prince and Javonte Green also vying for rotation minutes, if Huerter isn't making shots, he may end up falling down the depth chart.
Ron Holland
This will be a make-or-break season for the 21-year-old small forward. Holland has shown a lot of flashes, especially defensively, in his first two seasons in the league. But he needs to take big strides offensively to establish himself as a core member of this team in the long run.
That requires Holland to make himself more useful in the half-court. Whether that's through shooting, ball-handling, passing, or finishing, Holland has to prove that he can play next to Ausar Thompson on the wing. If he continues to be an offensive liability early in the season, his rotation spot will be in jeopardy. Even worse, he will be the most obvious trade candidate come the deadline.
Jalen Duren
This is an obvious one. The tensions between Pistons fans and Duren were alarmingly high throughout contract negotiations. There will be a lot of expectation on the 22-year-old center to prove that he is worth a five-year, $200 million investment.
If Duren gets off to a slow start, he could find himself at the center of a lot of negative narratives. He could even find himself on the chopping block if the Pistons come out of the gate struggling. Some in the fanbase will start calling for his trade, but it's up to Duren to silence his doubters with a strong start to the season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google