Pistons Add Much-Needed Shooting After Trading Isaiah Stewart

Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Pistons Add Much-Needed Shooting After Trading Isaiah Stewart

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Jun 26, 2026 11:59 AM ET

The Detroit Pistons made the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 this year, but they still needed to make changes this summer. They finished 10th out of 16 teams with a 51.2 effective field goal percentage in the playoffs and did not pass 116 points scored in any of their postseason games.

The Pistons added backcourt depth by trading up for Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie during the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday, moving from pick No. 21 to No. 17. He led all ACC players with 23.2 points per game last season.

Then, Detroit traded veteran center Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday and moved up to No. 53 overall for Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso. That led to Friday, when they agreed to acquire guard Isaiah Joe from the Oklahoma City Thunder, via ESPN's Shams Charania.

"Just in: The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons for two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN," he reported.

Just in: The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons for two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rHf0VHp7k0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2026

Isaiah Joe Could Flourish With Pistons

Former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Detroit added offensive talent at an affordable price with this move. Joe averaged a career-high 11.1 points on 45.5% shooting (42.3% 3-point) over 21.2 minutes (71 games) for Oklahoma City last season and will make $11.3 million next season before a club option for the same salary next summer.

Joe will space the floor for the Pistons around star point guard Cade Cunningham. The latter player and guard Duncan Robinson were their only players who shot at least 30% from deep (minimum 2.5 average attempts) in the playoffs.

Joe was picked No. 49 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers out of Arkansas in 2020, but they waived him after two seasons. The 6-foot-4, 165-pounder then signed a three-year, $5.9 million deal with Oklahoma City and has shot over 40% from three-point range ever since. The team rewarded him with a four-year, $48 million contract in 2024.

Up next for Detroit is re-signing big man Jalen Duren, who is a restricted free agent. The organization is focused on retaining the 22-year-old and won't trade him, per NBA On Prime's Chris Haynes.

Duren is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 19.5 points on 65% shooting with 10.5 rebounds over 28.2 minutes (70 games). The 6-foot-10, 250-pounder finished sixth in the NBA in rebounds and fourth in field goal percentage.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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