The Detroit Pistons didn't have the offseason their fans had in mind. After letting Tim Hardaway Jr. sign with the Denver Nuggets, getting priced out of Dennis Schröder, and losing Malik Beasley to a gambling investigation, the Pistons lost several key contributors this summer. They bounced back by trading Simone Fontecchio for Duncan Robinson and signing Caris LeVert, but the Pistons didn't take the big step forward that would make them Eastern Conference contenders.
The biggest weakness for the team is shooting once again. Detroit didn't add a shooter as good as Beasley. Jaden Ivey is returning from injury, and lineups with him, Cade Cunningham, and Ausar Thompson will need as much shooting as possible around them. This makes the addition of an elite marksman the most important priority for GM Trajan Langdon this offseason.
Pistons Must Aggressively Pursue a Sam Hauser Trade
That's what makes a potential Sam Hauser trade very intriguing. Not only is the 27-year-old forward one of the best shooters in the NBA, but he is also acquirable via a trade due to Boston's difficult financial situation.
The Celtics are in consolidation mode, treating the 2025-26 campaign as a transition season. They are trying to amass as many assets as possible to set themselves up for Jayson Tatum's return next season. Hauser's four-year $45 million deal that he is about to start puts them in a tough situation and makes the veteran shooter available in a trade.
Hauser would immediately be Detroit's best shooter. He has hit over 40% of his threes in each of his four seasons in the league, and his 6'8" frame gives him the ability to get his shot off over any defender. While Duncan Robinson is a nice addition for the Pistons that will help in this front, he is not the shooter that Hauser is.
Considering how desperately the Pistons need a backup forward behind Tobias Harris, it is hard to find a better fit than Hauser. It will likely take a first-round pick from the Pistons to get this deal done, but it would be worth it because of the excellent fit.