Detroit — Last summer, Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon admitted that he did not want to make any drastic changes to a roster that had just experienced one of the best one-year turnarounds in league history.
Aside from Cade Cunningham, who had earned All-NBA status, Langdon felt he still did not know much about the remaining young prospects. Many of them had yet to come close to reaching their potential during the Pistons’ 44 victories in the 2024-25 season. As a result, the biggest move Langdon made to the roster last summer was to pivot away from Malik Beasley after he was investigated by federal authorities for allegations of gambling on NBA games and prop bets.
A year later, Langdon understands he needs to be more aggressive in building the team ahead of his third season. However, his perspective is not based solely on the Pistons winning 60 games and reaching the second round of the playoffs. Instead, it comes from his deeper understanding of the players he wants to build around, particularly the core trio of Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson.
“We all want to get better. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve got to win 64 games. I don’t think we’re trying to do that. If we do, that’d be fantastic,” Langdon said. “We know that we need to be more equipped to compete in the postseason. That’s what we’re looking at doing — adding pieces that help accentuate our three best players, our core three players. That will help us not only in the regular season but also in postseason play. I think that all goes into how we feel we need to get better.”
Although contract talks between the parties have not yet begun, Langdon is committed to retaining Duren and Thompson for the long haul. His desire is especially genuine for Duren, who is entering restricted free agency and generating significant interest from teams around the league despite his playoff struggles.
Duren’s breakout year during the 2025-26 campaign earned him All-Star and All-NBA honors for the first time in his career. He took the helm as the Pistons’ second-best player, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds through 70 games. The former first-round pick (2022) can sign a rookie-max extension worth $287 million over five years this summer.
However, the Pistons are likely to offer Duren a contract that is less than the max. This decision is not meant to undervalue their appreciation for the talented big man; however, it is a strategy to allocate funds for other needs. The Pistons believe that by keeping Duren, they will retain a dominant player who can excel on both ends of the court and continue contributing to the team’s growing success.
“I want him here. That is where I am at with J.D.,” Langdon said. “We really want J.D. to be here.”
The reasoning for retaining Duren aligns with the team’s intention to keep Thompson, who has distinguished himself as arguably the league’s best perimeter defender. Thompson received All-Defensive First Team honors for a career season in which he led the league in steals, averaging 2.0 per game and totaling 146 takeaways. In addition, he also recorded 69 blocks and averaged 5.7 rebounds.
Thompson is also eligible to sign a rookie extension this summer. While it won’t be the maximum, this extension will provide Thompson with the first significant pay increase of his career.
“He took a huge step last year, and as the season went on, you saw how much he impacted the game on both ends of the floor,” Langdon said. “He competes at a high level. He is team-first. He is going to put in the work. We are excited about our future with him.”
The commitment to the Pistons’ core three players has given Langdon insights into how to keep the team’s roster progressing this offseason. Detroit has a significant need to add shooting and a secondary facilitator through the NBA Draft and free agency, with the Draft starting on June 23 and free agency on June 30.
While the pending extensions for Duren and Thompson will not take effect immediately, they give the Pistons flexibility to consider all options as they revamp their roster.
It is also why they will not pursue a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, given the assets they would need to give up and the future financial flexibility they would have in a potential deal. However, Langdon’s mindset suggests they are open to being a third team in a large trade, hoping to acquire a player who can address specific needs. It’s why they are at the forefront of the Tyler Herro rumors, especially if Antetokounmpo ends up with the Miami Heat.
Unlike last summer, the Pistons’ roster could look drastically different by the start of next season. However, one thing is certain — unless something unprecedented happens with trades or contract negotiations — Duren and Thompson will be starting alongside Cunningham, not just for next season, but for years to come.
“J.D. and A.T will be expensive,” Langdon said in May. “Once that happens (extensions), the optionality decreases. We have some things we can look at to determine what we can execute on to improve and what we can’t. What are the best paths to go down — not just for next season — but also just building forward.”
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons committed to core trio of Cunningham, Duren and Thompson
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
