The Detroit Pistons entered the 2024-2025 NBA season with a renewed sense of purpose, raising a crucial question: Can they sustain their early-season success? Although their start hasn’t rivaled that of division foes like the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pistons clearly showcase a stronger, more cohesive identity. While Detroit didn’t make headline-grabbing moves during the offseason, their strategic adjustments to the roster suggest they are prioritizing gradual, steady progress over short-term gambles.
Key offseason acquisitions included signing veteran forward Tobias Harris to a two-year deal and trading for Tim Hardaway Jr. from the Dallas Mavericks. These moves aimed to provide minor but meaningful upgrades without overhauling the core or breaking the bank. Detroit’s management tempered expectations by avoiding bold postseason declarations, emphasizing incremental improvement instead.
So far, their approach has yielded promising results. Winning over 40 percent of their first 12 games, the Pistons entered Wednesday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference. If they remain competitive, the organization may shift its strategy, exploring potential trades to bolster their playoff chances for the first time since 2019. One intriguing possibility floated recently involves acquiring veteran center Jusuf Nurkic from the Phoenix Suns.
### A Trade Proposal for Jusuf Nurkic
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale proposed a hypothetical deal in which the Pistons would receive Nurkic and a top-three-protected 2031 first-round pick in exchange for sending Isaiah Stewart to the Suns. Currently in the second season of a four-year, $70 million contract, Nurkic is owed $18.1 million for 2024-2025, with his salary rising to $19.3 million in 2025-2026 before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Nurkic, a 30-year-old center, has been a reliable NBA big man since debuting in 2014. After beginning his career with the Denver Nuggets, he solidified himself as a productive starter during a six-year tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers. Recently traded to the Suns as part of an offseason blockbuster, Nurkic averaged 11 points and 11 rebounds across 76 games last season. His addition would bring experience and immediate frontcourt stability, although it might come at the cost of Detroit’s long-term plans.
Favale noted that the inclusion of the future first-round pick could make the deal appealing to Detroit. “There is clearly a mandate for the Pistons to make measurable progress,” he wrote. However, trading Stewart, a young player with potential and a strong cultural fit under new head coach JB Bickerstaff, may undermine the Pistons’ trajectory. Stewart is signed through 2027, with a team option for the 2027-2028 season, and is seen as a critical piece of Detroit’s rebuilding effort.
### Weighing the Risks and Rewards
While Nurkic could provide an immediate boost, his acquisition might compromise Detroit’s ability to experiment with lineups that emphasize spacing and agility. Stewart, though less experienced, offers versatility and upside that aligns with the Pistons’ long-term vision. Moreover, with his current $15 million annual salary, Stewart represents a cost-effective option as Detroit builds toward sustained competitiveness.
The potential trade raises broader questions about the Pistons’ strategy: Should they prioritize immediate gains to solidify a playoff bid or maintain their patient approach centered around development and future flexibility? As the team continues to gel under Bickerstaff, the front office must carefully balance these considerations, ensuring they don’t sacrifice long-term progress for short-term results. For now, Detroit appears committed to steady improvement, leaving fans to wonder whether bold midseason moves might change their trajectory.
