The NBA trade season has officially started, but there has yet to be a transaction despite the NBA Draft being less than a week away. This means that the Detroit Pistons' search for more offensive firepower continues.
There are plenty of trade targets the Pistons are reportedly interested in. Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, and Trey Murphy are three of the top targets for Detroit, but how available any of them is at this stage of the offseason is unclear. So, the Pistons have to keep their options open to ensure they acquire the necessary upgrades ahead of next season.
One of the names that emerged this week was Tyler Herro. The Miami Heat guard is a popular name on trade machines, especially because the Miami Heat are involved in Giannis Antetokounmpo talks. They may have to move Herro this summer ahead of the final year of his contract.
Pistons' reported interest in Tyler Herro makes sense
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Tuesday that the Pistons are one of the teams interested in Herro. In his livestream for Bleacher Report, Fischer called the Pistons "a team that has shown interest in Tyler Herro in the past and does maintain interest in Tyler Herro."
There are certainly complicating factors in Detroit's Herro pursuit. As Fischer notes, the Pistons are about to get very pricey after a new contract for Jalen Duren and an extension for Ausar Thompson. They will presumably want to re-sign Tobias Harris as well.
Herro makes $33 million in the 2026-27 season, but will require a new deal once acquired. He should get at least $30 million per year in his next contract, making the Pistons a very expensive team starting in 2027.
So, whether the Pistons should go for Herro depends on the price. If it doesn't take much more than a future first-round pick and matching salary, Herro would be an ideal fit for the Pistons. Could a 2027 first-round pick, Caris LeVert, and Isaiah Stewart be enough to land Herro? Should Detroit still do it if Ron Holland has to be included?
Herro would help fix a lot of Detroit's problems. The one-time All-Star has the ability to play on or off the ball thanks to his shooting and ball-handling. He can run a pick-and-roll and generate decent shots when he has the ball in his hands, but he is also more than capable of spacing the floor and thriving as a spot-up shooter. He is one of the better off-the-dribble shooters in the league.
There are obvious defensive concerns with Herro, but he has at least solid positional size. His effort can wax and wane, but when engaged, he can hold his own on that end of the floor. Plus, if any team is going to make up for his defensive shortcomings, it's the Pistons.
The Pistons should have other offensive engines higher on their shortlist this summer. As backup plans go, however, they could do worse than Herro.
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