Pistons Shop Isaiah Stewart on $15 Million Deal as Celtics Weigh Center Upgrade

Q: Will trading their enforcer for more shooting finally make the Pistons true title contenders?

Not by itself. Trading Isaiah Stewart for shooting would address a real weakness, but it would be more of a ceiling-raising tweak than the move that suddenly makes Detroit a title favorite. The case for it is clear. Detroit’s offense stalled in the playoffs, and the team’s shooting was a major problem around Cade Cunningham. The Pistons have center depth with Jalen Duren expected back and Paul Reed under contract, so Stewart is one of the few useful rotation pieces they can move from a position of strength. If they turn Stewart into a reliable spacer or secondary creator, they would better balance a roster that already has elite defensive bones and a 60-win profile. But Stewart’s value is not trivial. He gives Detroit rim protection, switching ability, physicality and a playoff edge. Last season he averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 58 games, and his contract is team-friendly. Moving him for shooting helps only if the return is a real playoff-level offensive piece, not just a specialist who can be targeted defensively. The bigger point is that the Pistons are already close. Their defense and regular-season record already place them in the contender tier. What they lack is more dependable half-court offense and shot-making under playoff pressure. A Stewart trade could help solve that, but whether it makes them true championship favorites depends entirely on the quality of the shooter or creator they get back and how much defense they sacrifice to do it.

3 articles · Updated · MassLive.com · Jun 19

Isaiah Stewart has entered trade talks as Detroit looks to reshape its frontcourt after a second-round playoff exit.
Detroit can move the 24-year-old because Jalen Duren is expected to re-sign and Paul Reed remains under contract, while the team prioritizes more shooting around Cade Cunningham.
Stewart is owed $15 million over the next two seasons, with the second year a team option, after averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 58 games.
Boston is one potential fit: it could offer Sam Hauser and his $10.8 million salary for spacing help, or use a $27.5 million traded-player exception to absorb Stewart.