The Detroit Pistons cruised through the 2025-26 regular season with incredible momentum, but they crashed at the absolute worst time. After posting a stellar 60-22 record and finishing as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons entered the playoffs with championship aspirations.
Instead, their postseason ended early with a brutal 125-94 blowout against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Sunday. The loss has triggered debate about where Detroit goes from here, and one NBA legend believes they should seriously consider some major changes around Cade Cunningham.
Paul Pierce Urges Detroit Pistons To Explore Trade Options
During a recent discussion about the Pistons’ offseason on “No Fouls Given,” NBA legend Paul Pierce was candid in his assessment of the roster.
“Cade and Daniss Jenkins are the only two players I’m keeping,” Pierce said. “The rest of them, I’m exploring trade options…
“Look at the roster, this roster has no upside. Unless Ausar [Thompson] comes back and he’s shooting threes like Klay Thompson? Alright, cool, that’s not going to happen.”
Paul Pierce says Cade Cunningham and Daniss Jenkins is the only two players Pistons should keep:
“The rest of them I’m exploring trade options. I’m exploring that… Look at the roster, this roster has no upside. Unless Ausar comes back and he’s shooting threes like Klay… https://t.co/7zCaN1ukil pic.twitter.com/mVTCJEfRyR
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) May 18, 2026
Pierce argued that, despite their status as the East’s top seed and 60-win season, the Pistons’ inability to meet expectations in the postseason signals the need for major changes if they wish to become a championship contender.
Pierce clearly doesn’t believe in the supporting cast around Cunningham, who led the Pistons to their first playoff series win in 18 years and has proven himself as the face of the franchise going forward.
Cunningham finished the regular season averaging 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game in 64 games, while shooting 46.1% from the field and 34.2% from 3-point range. During the 2026 NBA Playoffs, he played in 14 games and averaged 28.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 43.2% from the field and 40.2% from long range.
Detroit’s front office will have some tough decisions to make this offseason, starting with the future of Jalen Duren, who is a restricted free agent after struggling mightily during the playoffs. During the regular season, Duren became a first-time All-Star and averaged 19.5 , 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 65% shooting from the field. However, during the playoffs, Duren was unplayable at times and averaged just 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 51.4% shooting from the field. Can Detroit really give him a max contract after the postseason he just had?
Tobias Harris and Kevin Huerter are unrestricted free agents, so it remains to be seen if they’ll be back. Pierce stated that he would be exploring trade options, so he seems to think the Pistons should work the phones and gauge the value of players like Duren, Thompson, and Co. as well.
If Pierce was calling the shots in Detroit, it sounds the only players who would be untouchable are Cunningham and Jenkins and then he’d make some major changes to shake up the roster around them.
