East Contender Labeled Team ‘Built to Shock the League’ Ahead of 2025-26 Season

Of course, the Pistons did lose some key players in free agency as Dennis Schroder signed with the Sacramento Kings and Tim Hardaway Jr. signed with the Denver Nuggets.

Malik Beasley’s career is also uncertain as he finds himself in the middle of an investigation regarding gambling allegations.

Despite these losses, the Pistons did add Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson in free agency and they will also be getting back Jaden Ivey who missed most of last season due to a broken leg.

Pistons named team that could "shock the league" next season

Because of this, Detroit is expected to be a contender in the weakened East next season and Bleacher Report’s Mo Dakhil recently named them as a team that could “shock the league.”

“Usually, a young team like the Detroit Pistons would not be on this list, but with the weakened state of the Eastern Conference, the door is open for them to shock the league, again,” Dakhil wrote. “It might be a reach to think that Detroit can be a shock contender this season. But if Ivey can provide that production for a full season, Cunningham continues to ascend to stardom, and Ausar Thompson takes a leap, the Pistons have a chance to shock the world.”

Dakhil makes a great point about how the door is open for the Pistons to take another step forward next season in the weakened East and they may be a surprise championship contender.

Of course, the Pistons are hoping that their young core of Cunningham, Ivey, Thompson and Jalen Duren can continue to take leaps in their development after losing some key players this summer.

If they are able to do so, the Pistons may once again shock the NBA world next season as a potential top seed in the East.