The Detroit Pistons have made some offseason moves to revamp the roster, but they haven't done enough to push themselves into the top tier of championship contenders. Even once they re-sign Jalen Duren, the Pistons haven't improved their team enough for the fans to feel good about their chances of winning a title next season.
However, there are still moves to be made. The Pistons continue to need more forward depth and can use more shooting. There is a roster imbalance where the backcourt is overly crowded, but the frontcourt needs more capable bodies. With another trade, this can be fixed, and the Pistons can enter the 2026-27 season with a better all-around roster.
Let's take a look at who some of the potential trade candidates may be.
Trey Murphy
Murphy has been coveted by Detroit for a long time. The Pistons and the Pelicans have yet to agree on the asking price. Per the latest reports, the Pelicans are asking for three first-round picks. There is a deal to be made here if the Pistons are willing to be more aggressive.
The matching salary in this trade would be two of Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter, and Ron Holland, in addition to the draft capital.
Three first-round picks may sound like a lot, but Murphy is a uniquely good fit in Detroit. He is a very good shooter who doesn't compromise the Pistons' elite defense. Plus, he is on the same timeline as the Pistons' core and is on a very team-friendly deal. This makes him potentially the missing piece in Detroit's championship roster.
Cam Johnson
If the asking price for Murphy is simply too high, the Pistons can turn to Cam Johnson of the Denver Nuggets. He brings a similar skill set to Murphy, but he is four years older. Johnson doesn't have the upside of Murphy on either end of the floor, but he is a starting-caliber, quality forward.
The Nuggets are trying to shed salary as they are prioritizing re-signing Peyton Watson. According to the reports out of Denver, Johnson should be available on the trade market. He should be gettable for much cheaper than Murphy.
Johnson makes $23 million next season and will be a free agent in the 2027 offseason. This gives the Pistons some future flexibility as they can move on from him next summer or sign him to a team-friendly deal.
PJ Washington
An under-the-radar option who would actually be a solid fit in Detroit is PJ Washington. The 27-year-old forward is considered to be on the trade block as the Dallas Mavericks are building around Cooper Flagg. Since the Mavs added rookie power forward Morez Johnson Jr. out of Michigan, there is simply no room for Washington.
With Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively also in the fold in Dallas, the Mavs have a crowded frontcourt. This makes Washington and his $19.8 million salary for next season expendable.
The combo forward had a crucial role in Dallas' NBA Finals run two seasons ago, proving his playoff chops. He has the size, athleticism, and shooting to play any frontcourt position. Given the lack of quality power forward depth in Detroit, Washington is an ideal fit.
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