Detroit Pistons Offseason: 2026

[Deleterious]

I would almost guarantee it wasn't Gores.

Gores is a glory hound.  He is the guy with PE on the LCA floor even though 99.99% of the people watching can't invest in their funds.  He is the guy with his massive picture mixed in with the players in the tunnel.  Extending a coach who has three years left on his deal is boring.  It isn't sexy.  Gores wouldn't care about it.

 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Maybe this is just my own biases as a Michigan fan clouding my judgement, alongside my general lack of basketball knowledge, but Yaxel Lendeborg seems like he would be good fit here for the Pistons. First, he can help the Pistons space the floor. He's not a guy that is going to be down in the paint bumping around with Duren and clogging things up. Second, he has a decent 3pt% where he shot around 38% from deep at Michigan this season. He can also create shots when asked and is not simply a catch and shoot guy. Who needs shooting worse than the Pistons? Third, he plays good defense and has the length to guard bigs and the athleticism to go on a guard if he absolutely had too. 

I don't understand why most mock drafts I've read are projecting him outside the top 10. But if he were to fall outside the top 10, is Yaxel the type of player you think would be worth getting aggressive for and trading up to get?

[buddha]

43 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Maybe this is just my own biases as a Michigan fan clouding my judgement, alongside my general lack of basketball knowledge, but Yaxel Lendeborg seems like he would be good fit here for the Pistons. First, he can help the Pistons space the floor. He's not a guy that is going to be down in the paint bumping around with Duren and clogging things up. Second, he has a decent 3pt% where he shot around 38% from deep at Michigan this season. He can also create shots when asked and is not simply a catch and shoot guy. Who needs shooting worse than the Pistons? Third, he plays good defense and has the length to guard bigs and the athleticism to go on a guard if he absolutely had too. 

I don't understand why most mock drafts I've read are projecting him outside the top 10. But if he were to fall outside the top 10, is Yaxel the type of player you think would be worth getting aggressive for and trading up to get?

pros: great player with range and length.  can guard 3-4 positions in the nba.

cons: old, so probably not going to get significantly better than he is now.  not as athletic as you think.  range is good but not great for the nba.

i dont think he'll be available at 21, but i do think mara and morez get picked before him.  i'd take him if i were detroit, but i'd almost rather have morez.  he's more athletic and reminds me a bit of stew.

[Deleterious]

#21 is a throwaway pick, so I wouldn't get mad if they picked him there.  But I'm not trading away a future first to move up and pick Yaxel.