The Detroit Pistons made some offseason moves, but some of their glaring weaknesses remain. One of the reasons for their downfall in the playoffs last year was their lack of a viable backup power forward. The team didn't have anyone to guard Karl-Anthony Towns when Tobias Harris was on the bench, and didn't have enough three-and-D forwards in the rotation.
Unfortunately, they have yet to address this need. If anything, with Simone Fontecchio's departure, they have fewer options who can capably play the four. To make matters worse, they just missed out on the opportunity to land a competent veteran who would have been the ideal fit.
The Miami Heat have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ilO1dBStWw
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 15, 2025
Pistons Should Have Traded for Haywood Highsmith
ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Friday that the Miami Heat were trading Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets. In return, they were getting Brooklyn's 2026 second-round pick. Miami's main return, however, is cap savings, as Highsmith was set to make $5.6 million for next season.
Considering how low the price was, the Pistons should have certainly gotten involved. They would have had to include the salaries of Bobi Klintman and another minimum contract to make the trade work, but it would have been a worthy effort.
Highsmith is set to miss the next two months after undergoing knee surgery earlier in August, but should return around the start of the regular season. Upon his return, he could have been the versatile defender the Pistons are looking for behind Harris.
Plus, Highsmith is a better shooter than the other defense-first players on Detroit's roster. He has shot better than 38% from downtown in each of the past two seasons. While his volume isn't very high, only taking 3.1 threes per game last season, teams can't leave him open. At age 28, he isn't a candidate for regression, either.
There is a chance the Pistons will get someone better at that spot, so this will not be a big miss. If they don't, however, Detroit could regret ignoring an obvious need.