Detroit Pistons season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27
The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.
2025-26 finish
Record: 60-22 (1st in the East, lost 4-3 in East semifinals to Cavaliers)
Offseason moves
Draft: Ebuka Okorie (No. 17), Ugonna Onyenso (No. 53)
Signings:
Trades: Isaiah Joe (from Thunder),
Key departures:
Preseason Power Rankings: No. 13
What's exciting: The Pistons finished 17th in 3-point percentage but 29th in 3-point attempts last season, and that inability to effectively space the floor carried into the playoffs. Opponents crowded the paint for Duren and Cade Cunningham, but now the team has more shooting threats. Joe is a talented movement shooter, Prince is reliable off the catch, and Collins can knock down shots from the corners. Those additions will help out Cade on his drives, Duren on his rolls, and Thompson on his cuts.
What's concerning: The issue is that Duren returning won't necessarily mean everything is all good and dandy. Even though he accepted a long-term deal, the frustration from these negotiations could always linger into the season. Duren's consistency has wavered plenty of times in the past. What if that version of him returns? And even if he has another All-NBA season, we've watched him turn into a shrinking violet for two consecutive postseasons. Maybe he's just not built for it. And if he's not, then he needs to be replaced.
Fantasy watch
Jalen Duren signed, and the holdout is finito. But my top breakout here is Ausar Thompson; we know about the stocks, but the offensive growth is the story. His shot profile is already changing; he's hitting more confident middys, and his playmaking is underrated. That's why his ADP is climbing. — Dan Titus
2026-27 schedule
Opening week: 10/20 vs. Celtics, 10/23 at Heat
Betting perspective
49.5 — win total
+120 to win division
+3000 to win NBA Finals
Best case, worst case
Best case: No. 1 seed
They just won 60 games, and their two most impactful players from my view (Cunningham, Thompson) are 1) still here and 2) still getting better. Even with some defensive slippage — let's say they go from 2nd to 7th — more shooting should loosen things up in the half-court offensively. There's absolutely a pathway to them maintaining the top seed in the conference.
Worst case: Play-In Tournament
The East's depth could be enough reason for the Pistons to fall in the 7-10 range. If the half-court offense underwhelms — aside from the obvious Thompson shooting portion, I am curious to the volume of switches the Pistons face — in addition to the defense taking any sort of step back, there's certainly room to slide in the standings. — Nekias Duncan
