The Pistons Must Make A Move To Add Shooting At The Deadline

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 29: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 29, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons were a very good basketball team last year, and they have graduated to excellent this season. While saying as much earlier in this season might have generated some side eye, you don’t generate a 5.5-game lead in the Eastern Conference by accident.

The Pistons have made this leap on the back of great coaching and culture setting by JB Bickerstaff and the front office, and continued growth from a core of young players. Nobody has been more important than All-NBA candidate Cade Cunningham, but not too far behind are likely All-Star at 22 years old Jalen Duren and steady growth from Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson, and Ron Holland.

Armed with the third-best point differential in the NBA and the league’s second-most potent defense, the Pistons are for real. They have the foundation, personality, and alpha scorer needed to go to the NBA Finals.

They also have the critical flaws that could see this team bounced in the first round. It deserves better than to chance that fate.

That is why the Pistons front office must make a deal at the NBA trade deadline this week to add at least one and maybe two shooters. Headlines indicate that the Pistons are unlikely to make a big swing at the deadline (think someone like Michael Porter Jr.) and, you know what, fair enough. Detroit doesn’t want to strip away its core or its long-term roster-building vision. Fine.

But you don’t need to make a deal at the top of the market to address this team’s most glaring weakness, and it is glaring. Detroit ranks 28th in 3-point attempts per game and 21st in 3-point percentage. They are middling in overall shooting efficiency despite being able to absolutely dominate in the paint, and that is because they have so few reliable 3-point shooters.

Detroit does have Duncan Robinson, and he has been critical to Detroit’s success. The Pistons rank dead last in 3-point makes this season, and Robinson accounts for just under 25% of the team’s total successful attempts. Only five teams have a player eclipsing 24%, and two of those are the Pelicans and Mavericks. Detroit’s second-most prolific marksman in Cade Cunningham with 78 makes. That is bottom-4 in the league, along with Orlando, Memphis, and the Los Angeles Lakers. In contrast, the No. 2s at the top of the league include former Pistons wing Tim Hardaway Jr. in Denver (140 makes) and Anthony Edwards in Minnesota (156 makes).

The Pistons are playing a dangerous game, and it is one they cannot win in the playoffs. There is too much time between games to scheme up your defense, and there are too many targets on Detroit’s roster offensively and defensively. You want Ausar on the floor, but he needs shooters around him to stick on the floor. Conversely, you need Robinson on the floor for shooting, but how many times can the opponent force a switch so their best player can flambe Robinson’s D are you willing to risk?

The other side of the coin is just how dangerous this team could be if they address the relatively low-hanging fruit of adding some shooting. Their defense would likely remain elite, and they would still be able to dominate opponents inside. They would even better be able to maximize the Cunningham-Duren pick-and-roll. They would still rebound the hell out of the ball, generate steals, and get out and run. That is the recipe for great success in the playoffs. If only the defense isn’t allowed to ignore the perimeter or send two or three guys at Cunningham all game.

I don’t expect or need the Pistons to be going all-in for a title this season. But I need them not to sabotage their chances at a deep playoff run, and the valuable experience it provides for players we are confident will be on this roster for a true potential title run (guys like Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson).

Detroit doesn’t need to sell the farm for Michael Porter Jr., but there are other ways to add 3-point shooting to this roster. The Trail Blazers added Vit Krejci from the Hawks for the cost of Duop Reath and two seconds. Krejci is no All-Star, but he is a 6-foot-8 wing shooting 42% from deep this season.

That is the level of move the Pistons need to make this season. Anything less is letting down their players, their fans, and potentially sabotaging their future. They can’t let that happen.