The Detroit Pistons won their first playoff series in years, making it to the second round. Unfortunately, they lost to the Cavaliers, largely due to their youth and inexperience. That's why DeMar DeRozan's experience and mid-range mastery make sense for this squad.
It's impossible to fully explain how impressive the Pistons' turnaround has been. They hadn't won a playoff series since 2008, and spent most seasons after that as a sub .500 team. Detroit sank to its worst level in the 2023-2024 season when they finished with a record of 14 wins and 68 losses.
Then, Detroit brought J.B. Bickerstaff in as the head coach, and the game changed. The Pistons went 44-38 in 2024-2025, then 60-22 in 2025-2026. On top of that, they made the playoffs both seasons, won an actual series, and finished the regular season as the top team in the Eastern Conference.
It's not all wine and roses in the Motor City, though. In round one of the 2026 playoffs, the Pistons let the Magic get up on them three games to one. They fought back to win the series, only to let something similar happen in round two against the Cavs. Detroit didn't complete that comeback.
DeRozan will bring a strong veteran presence to a young team
It can be easy to forget how young and inexperienced the Pistons are, particularly in the playoffs. There's a lot of potential on this roster as it develops. That doesn't change the fact that they could use a legendary veteran like DeRozan on the team to bring some stability to this group.
DeRozan has been in the league since 2009 and knows the game inside and out. This six-time All-Star remains an elite mid-range shooter, not to mention a strong veteran presence. Unfortunately, he just doesn't fit what the Kings are building, and was brought in without a real strategy.
There are numerous players on the Pistons' roster that the Kings could put to work, such as Chaz Lanier and Marcus Sasser. Beyond that, Detroit has multiple first and second-round draft picks over the next five years, giving them some serious draft capital to work with.
This is a trade that could work out well for both sides, particularly since DeRozan's contract for 2026-2027 only has $10 million guaranteed. He's a low-cost, high-reward option for the Pistons that will help them in the postseason. Plus, it will be another step forward in the Kings' rebuild.
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