The Detroit Pistons returned to the NBA’s island of relevancy this season, reaching the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. With a young core that includes Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, the Pistons have a look of a team that isn’t just a one-year wonder.
While that may be the case, the Pistons offseason didn’t have a move that put them over the top. The acquisitions of Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert could provide a boost but there isn’t much for fans to believe this team is better than it was a year ago outside of internal improvement.
That could change in August as a young player that put on a show over the summer could open the door to another deal in the build to this season.
Ron Holland II Could Be Intriguing Trade Chip for Pistons After NBA Summer League Performance
Second-year guard Ron Holland didn’t have a big impact in his rookie season. But the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft showed plenty of upside during NBA Summer League action this month.
Holland set the tone by dropping 28 points with 11 rebounds, two assists and three steals in Detroit’s opener against the New York Knicks and averaged 21.7 points, six rebounds and four steals while playing 30 minutes a game. He also shot 46.7% on 3-pointers and was named to the NBA 2K26 All-Summer League Second Team, showing off major improvement on a shot that saw him register 23.8% from downtown a year ago.
With Malik Beasley and his franchise-record 3-point mark (319) departing this season, the Pistons could use Holland in an expanded role in his sophomore campaign. But as B/R’s Zach Buckley put it, it also could be an opportunity to sell high.
“Give Holland a reliable outside shot and everything could open up for the 6-foot-8, athletic forward,” Buckley wrote. “Since the summer sample isn’t big enough to assume he has one now, though, it’s still worth wondering if the Pistons would consider letting him go to get Cade Cunningham a true co-star. Because if Holland’s shot remains a question, then so, too, does his long-term fit with fellow non-spacers Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren.”
There are plenty of reasons for the Pistons to not make this move. At age 20, that's a ton of upside to give away and haunt Detroit if Holland has made the leap. There’s also not an obvious superstar available on the market right now, even though you could have said the same thing about Karl-Anthony Towns at this time one year ago before he was traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves to the New York Knicks.
Then again, there's factors that add to the appeal of moving Hollard. Doubling his shot’s efficiency from 3-point range in his rookie season may be a lofty expectation for Holland in Year 2. And the Pistons also have to consider the financial ramifications, which could include contract extensions for Duren and Ivey in the near future.
Add it up and the Pistons could listen to Holland not only before the season but up to next winter’s trade deadline as a piece that could land the co-star fans have been looking for.