The 2026 NBA offseason looks to be an interesting one for the Detroit Pistons, who are fresh off a 60-win regular season. The Pistons have had one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent history, going from the hands-down worst team in basketball to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. 

Detroit’s future is centered around none other than rising superstar point guard Cade Cunningham, who is coming off an MVP-caliber season and one of the best individual campaigns in franchise history. For Cunningham to continue turning the tide in Detroit and ascending individually, the Pistons will need to land their 24-year-old point guard some help. 

Could Pistons Feature Another All-Star Around Cade Cunningham?

GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 22: Jalen Duren #0 and Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons high five against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on October 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

While Cunningham is largely responsible for transcending the Pistons’ fortunes, Jalen Duren, the rising 22-year-old big man, is also to thank for the success. But for Detroit to rise into legitimate title contender status, it may need to feature another star. 

According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Pistons have their eyes on Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard, a seven-time All-Star could be an addition that would take Detroit over the hump.

“Now, if a team approached them with a massive trade offer for the seven-time All-Star, they would have to at least consider the idea of taking a step back and moving on from Leonard, especially since he turns 35 years old on Monday,” Siegel reported. “Multiple teams, including the Warriors, Timberwolves, and Pistons, have contacted the Clippers both at the trade deadline and this offseason to inquire about Leonard’s availability. At no point did Los Angeles show any interest in trading him, sources said.”

While the Clippers have not formally made Leonard available, Siegel reports there is a chance the franchise would look to move the two-time Finals MVP if they receive a worthy package. 

Does Detroit have enough in its asset bank to draw up a strong trade package for Leonard? Maybe. Nonetheless, it is a good sign the Pistons are searching for another big fish to slot alongside Cunningham.

Detroit Should Strong Consider a Big Trade; is Leonard Enough to Make a Contender? 

GettyDALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers celebrates with a teammate during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 21, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.

Last season, the Pistons blew away expectations. Cunningham arrived as a blossoming superstar, Duren announced himself as a franchise cornerstone and Detroit showed it may just be one major piece away from claiming the Eastern Conference mantle. 

Perhaps making an offseason splash is something Pistons president Trajan Langdon needs to strongly consider. 

In some ways, Cunningham’s situation mirrors Anthony Edwards’ in Minnesota. Both young, rising superstars on teams that can make noise in the playoffs. The Timberwolves realized they didn’t have enough to compete, so they landed LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. 

Maybe something similar needs to happen in Detroit. Perhaps star guard or wing next to Cunningham is what it will take to elevate the Pistons from a regular season force to a playoff powerhouse.

Landing Leonard from the Clippers might raise the Pistons to that level. Although he’s 35 years old, Leonard is coming off an All-NBA season after registering a career high 27.6 points per game and doing it on an uber-efficient 51.5% shooting from the floor. 

Leonard is a proven winner and multi-time champion. He may be the superstar (and veteran) Detroit needs to put itself on equal footing with the NBA champion New York Knicks.

Adel Ahmad Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad

Hartford, Connecticut may be Rick Mahorn’s hometown, but Detroit has his heart.

The original Pistons’ “Bad Boy” has worn many hats in basketball, from player to coach to broadcaster, but now he is back in the coaching realm leading Detroit’s BIG3 team, the Detroit Amps. 

“The city has always been good to me, I figured I have to give something back,” Mahorn said about coming back and representing Detroit. “The fact is that I made Detroit home and one thing about Detroit, it’s always going to love me and Imma love Detroit.”

Mahorn spent 18 seasons in the NBA and won the 1989 championship with the Pistons. After retirement in 1999 as a Philadelphia 76er, he started his coaching career with the Atlanta Hawks, and the “coaching phase” never faded. 

Serving as the assistant coach for the Detroit Shock for four years, he helped lead them to two championships and moved up to the head coach position before the franchise was relocated. 

Years later he joined the BIG3 when it launched in 2017 as the head coach for the Trilogy and won the league’s first ever championship, along with its first ever Coach of the Year Award. He recently stepped back into coaching for the BIG3 as the Amps coach. 

Along with his love for coaching, his love for the Pistons was at the heart of it. In between each coaching position, he took a break to focus on being a color analyst for the Pistons radio network and recently completed his 20th season in that role. 

“It keeps calling me back, but the thing I love about coaching is that you have to ‘each one, teach one,’” Mahorn said.  “Someone taught me as a coach, that kept me on the straight and narrow, making sure I was always positive about what I do for a living, but basketball opens up so many avenues.”

Founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz, the BIG3 played its inaugural season in January 2017 with eight teams. It expanded to 12 teams in 2019 but dropped back to eight with new cities and logos. 

Detroit was a part of the rebrand with the Detroit Amps, also known as the Detroit Amplifiers, and they joined the league last season.

Although this isn’t Mahorn’s first rodeo coaching in the BIG3, or coaching Detroit basketball, it is his first season coaching the Amps after taking over the role following the former coach, hall of famer George Gervin. 

Mahorn technically never left the Detroit fan base, and has continuously been connected with the Pistons, but it is still a great feeling for him to be back coaching on Detroit’s side for the Amps. 

“What they do to me is keep me young. You think you getting old and the next thing you know you’re coaching some young guys,” Mahorn said. “I want them to have the respect of being a professional. The fact is they’re the ones carrying the torch later.”

Ice Cube or Kwatinetz weren’t in attendance Saturday, but Ice Cube’s son, Oshea Jackson Jr., was present and working with CBS Sports on interviews. 

Other celebrities came out to support, like Pistons forward Ronald Holland, former Detroit Amps head coach and hall of famer George Gervin, and local artist Payroll Giovanni, who performed at halftime of the Amps game. 

Week two of season nine kicked off Saturday, and the Amps continued their losing streak, falling to 0-2 after a 51- 44 loss to Miami 305. 

This isn’t the only time Michiganders will see the league this season at Little Caesars Arena. It will be back for week six on July 23. 

“Detroit is a beautiful city — it’s a hardworking city,” Mahorn said. “One thing about Detroit: they embrace everybody that comes back, that’s done some things — the championships I have in my repertoire, but it’s just the fact that I just love Detroit.”

BIG3 WEEK TWO RESULTS 

Game 1:  Dallas Power 50, LA Riot 33

Game 2: Chicago Triplets 51, DMV Trilogy 49

Game 3: Miami 305 51, Detroit Amps 44

Game 4: Boston Ball Hogs 51, Houston Rig Hands 36