The Detroit Pistons have options this summer when it comes to building around their young core, and that makes them a dangerous team in the eyes of the rest of the NBA.
With Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Jaren Duren looking like cornerstones of the future at their respective positions, general Trajan Langdon and the Pistons' front office can be selective in which areas of the roster to attack in full this summer, as there should be plenty of intriguing avenues for Detroit to choose from.
This leads us to the latest NBA trade rumor concerning a rising young star who could be an interesting addition to the Pistons' roster this summer.
Raptors SG RJ Barrett Reportedly Available Ahead of the NBA Draft
At least one of the veteran shooting guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Besley are likely to move on to their next home when they become free agents next month. That opens up the door to make a move for Toronto Raptors veteran RJ Barrett, who is expected to be made available via trade this offseason, per Evan Sidery of Forbes.
The Raptors appear open to trading RJ Barrett as they plan to prioritize Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick as their starting wing trio moving forward.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 15, 2025
Barrett produced a career-best season in Toronto averaging 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. pic.twitter.com/3jBOZ6i31R
From a cost perspective alone, it doesn't make sense to pay Hardway as much as other franchises may be willing to offer due to his age alone. Beasley would be a better fit with the Pistons' timeline but he could attract some lucrative offers of his own this summer after finishing second in voting for the league's Sixth Man of the Year Award.
At just 25 years old, and seemingly coming into his own as an NBA player, pairing Barrett and Cunningham in the same backcourt would make for a strong 1-2 punch made up of players who have yet to reach their respective primes.
The former first-round pick just averaged career highs in points (21.1), rebounds (6.3), and assists (5.4) in 58 starts with the Raptors last season. He also has two years remaining on his contract and will carry a $27.7 million cap hit next season, according to Spotrac, which could look like a steal if his current trajectory continues.
Acquiring a player of Barrett's caliber would mean sending valuable pieces back to Toronto. If the Raptors are at the point where the league knows they don't view Barrett as a long-term piece of the puzzle, then they lose leverage in any negotiations, which would only help Detroit's chances.