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.  

[buddha]

i'm not trading future assets for yaxel.

they need those future assets to trade for a second scorer.

[Deleterious]

27 minutes ago, buddha said:

i'm not trading future assets for yaxel.

they need those future assets to trade for a second scorer.

If they give Ausar and Duren a combined $60-$70 million a year, you're not getting a second scorer.  Your second scorer has to be one of them.

The summer of 2027 the Pistons have 4 guys under contract currently for a cap hit of $98 million.  If you give Duren $30 million a year and Ausar $35 million per, that is 6 guys committed at $165 million a year, which is right where the cap will be.  Your 7th guy can't be a $40 million a year second option with that roster.  

You are right they will need those future assets.  But it will be to add cheap talent to fill out the bench because they are going to be struggling with the cap.  

[Shinzaki]

Would like to have any of the guys on Michigan's front line at #21.  I think Johnson has the highest ceiling of them, Yaxel the highest floor.  Mara is intriguing because there may be some growth in his game as a shooter...but not as much overall upside as Johnson.

Agree that if we're going to spend substantial future assets we have to get a legit #2 for Cade to work with

NC's Henri Veersaar would be an intriguing guy...7ft C who hit 42% from 3 against high level competition in the ACC.  

Edited 1 hour ago by Shinzaki

[buddha]

1 hour ago, Deleterious said:

If they give Ausar and Duren a combined $60-$70 million a year, you're not getting a second scorer.  Your second scorer has to be one of them.

The summer of 2027 the Pistons have 4 guys under contract currently for a cap hit of $98 million.  If you give Duren $30 million a year and Ausar $35 million per, that is 6 guys committed at $165 million a year, which is right where the cap will be.  Your 7th guy can't be a $40 million a year second option with that roster.  

You are right they will need those future assets.  But it will be to add cheap talent to fill out the bench because they are going to be struggling with the cap.  

i was just going to come on and ask that question.  if they re-sign duren, THATS IT.  THATS THE CORE.  

unless you find someone to take him on once he's making $40 million a year.  youre betting on his development, because you cant get anyone else at that point.

all this talk i hear about signing duren and then trading for someone like kwahi is nuts.

[NYLion]

5 hours 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?

Highly doubtful that he makes it to 21 but you never know. Would you trade #21 plus next years 1st+ other stuff to move up to 12 or so to grab him? I'd rather not, I would prefer to save the draft capital for a more proven commodity if needed although it seems more likely than not that Langdon makes no significant trades and just signs Duren and Ausar long term as well as Harris for 2-3 years with some edge of the roster moves.

Edited 14 minutes ago by NYLion

[Deleterious]

56 minutes ago, buddha said:

i was just going to come on and ask that question.  if they re-sign duren, THATS IT.  THATS THE CORE.  

unless you find someone to take him on once he's making $40 million a year.  youre betting on his development, because you cant get anyone else at that point.

all this talk i hear about signing duren and then trading for someone like kwahi is nuts.

Something to consider regarding his future trade value. 

Teams out west will not want him or other centers like him.  Victor is going to run that conference for the next 10+ years.  You can't play a non-shooting big against him.  You have to have a guy that can shoot 3's and pull Wemby out away from the basket.  It's why Hartenstein barely played in game 1.  

His value will go down when half of the league isn't a viable landing spot.