At 19-5, the Detroit Pistons own the top record in the Eastern Conference. They are 7-3 in their last 10 and have won two consecutive games. Detroit is at home Friday night vs. the Hawks.
With their strong start to the year, the Pistons have been involved in several trade rumors. The team has been connected to players like Anthony Davis and Lauri Markkanen. However, NBA insider Marc Stein doesn’t anticipate that happening. He reported that Detroit is expected to keep its roster intact for the 2025-26 season. They’re unlikely to make a splash move via a trade.
The Pistons do not want to trade away key pieces of the roster
JB Bickerstaff on the Pistons making trades for a star player:
“We made a decision this summer not to hit the panic button after a little success last year. Our guys earned the right to come back as a group and see what they could build on.”
via @RunItBackFDTV pic.twitter.com/tTFA4hrkYO
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) December 9, 2025
The 2024-25 season was a breakout year for the Pistons. Detroit finished with a 44-38 record and made a playoff appearance for the first time in five seasons. They more than tripled their win total from the previous year. This offseason, the Pistons’ front office did not make any rash decisions. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the franchise wanted to give the roster a chance to build on the success from the previous year.
That’s exactly what the Pistons have done in 2025-26. The team is 19-5, currently the top record in the Eastern Conference. Recently, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the team is unlikely “to go out and make some splashy trade.” Stein expects the Pistons to keep the core of their roster together. However, he said the team could make a small-level trade to add depth.
Marc Stein on the Pistons trade deadline
“The early noise about the Pistons has been that they don’t want to go out and make some splashy trade.”
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) December 11, 2025
Detroit has a solid nucleus of young players on its roster. Marc Stein said the Pistons are willing to let this year play out and make moves in the 2026 offseason. The Pistons fell short in the 2025 playoffs with a loss in the first round. They want to build off that success in the 2026 playoffs. If the team makes a deep run, the front office would be inclined to make a big-time trade. We’ll see how the 2025-26 season and playoffs turn out for Detroit. Their results will factor into how the roster is constructed moving forward.
