The Detroit Pistons had a busy NBA Draft week, making three trades and two draft picks.
They sent away Isaiah Stewart, drafted Ebuka Okorie at No. 17 overall and Ugonna Onyenso at No. 53, and traded for Isaiah Joe.
Now comes 2026 NBA free agency, one day away.
The Pistons can operate as an over-the-cap team and retain the ability to re-sign multiple free agents, and have access to the non-taxpayer $15 million mid-level exception (up to a four-year deal worth $64.7 million). Or they could go the less likely cap space route, which would entail other moves, such as trading Caris LeVert into cap space for picks, waiving Duncan Robinson and renouncing their early Bird rights on Tobias Harris.
Jalen Duren (restricted) and Harris (unrestricted) are their most important free agents.
Here are the latest Pistons NBA rumors ahead of free agency, which begins Tuesday, June 30, at 6 p.m. ET.
Mavericks interested in Marcus Sasser
Date: Tuesday, June 30.
Source: Marc Stein.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Tuesday that the Dallas Mavericks have interest in trading for Pistons guard Marcus Sasser.
A first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Sasser has played all three of his NBA seasons with the Pistons. However, his playing time has decreased in all three seasons, with Sasser starting 71 games in 2023-24, 57 games in 2024-25 and 38 games in 2025-26. He would carry a $2.9 million cap hit for the upcoming season, per Spotrac.
Sasser has been mostly a bench piece for the Pistons averaging 7.0 points per game in his career. And while his field-goal percentage dipped to 39% in the previous season, he shot 41.5% from 3-point range on nearly three 3-point attempts per game.
Mid-level exception options for Pistons
The NBA’s free agency negotiation period begins at 6 p.m. today, with the Pistons likely still having access to a non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Our Omari Sankofa II takes a look at five free agent targets the Pistons could look at with that exception as Langdon could look to improve the roster on a budget.
Jalen Duren heading to Sacramento?
The Pistons and Jalen Duren are reportedly far apart on their contract talks. How far apart? Duren is reportedly talking with the Sacramento Kings about working out a sign-and-trade, per NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% shooting en route to All-NBA third-team honors, qualifying him for a contract worth up to $287 million that starts at 30% of the salary cap with 8% raises.
But the “higher max criteria” only applies to the Pistons – outside teams are capped to a maximum deal starting at up to 25% of the cap with 5% raises over four years, which comes out to $177.4 million total.
A sign-and-trade would allow Duren to get the bigger paycheck, while landing the Pistons some assets as they attempt to improve upon last season’s second-round exit from the NBA playoffs.
Kevin Huerter returning to Pistons
Kevin Huerter, who joined the Pistons at the trade deadline in a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, will reportedly re-sign with Detroit on a three-year, $27 million deal, per ESPN’s Shams Charania and confirmed by the Free Press’ Omari Sankofa II.
Landry Shamet back to the Knicks
You can cross one possible Pistons target off the board. Landry Shamet is going back to the New York Knicks on a four-year, $24 million deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Shamet would have been an intriguing option for the Pistons’ mid-level exception. He hit 39.4% of his 3-pointers on 419 total attempts during his time with the Knicks and was even better in the postseason, going 36-for-76 (47.4%) through 30 playoff games
Ja Morant dealt to Portland
In a move that would have been shocking just a few seasons ago, the Memphis Grizzlies traded embattled star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. The return will be Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis.
Morant is a two-time NBA All-Star, but he comes with some off-court baggage. He’s been suspended three times for detrimental conduct, twice for displaying a firearm on social media.
Pistons pick up options on Jenkins, Smith
The Pistons have picked up their team options for both Daniss Jenkins and Tolu Smith, reports Keith Smith of Spotrac. Jenkins, of course, went from a two-way guard to one of the Pistons’ most reliable performers this past postseason. Smith, a center, did not have a large role with the Pistons this past season, but he may be needed more with Isaiah Stewart traded to the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason.
Bradley Beal declines option
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal has declined his $5.6 million player option for next season. That will make him an unrestricted free agent.
The three-time All-Star played in only six games for the Clippers in the 2025-26 season after undergoing season-ending surgery for a hip fracture in November. He played 53 games in each of his two seasons with the Phoenix Suns from 2023-25.
The 33-year-old shooting guard averaged 17.0 points per game for the Suns in his most recent full season, well short of his career average of 21.4 ppg. It is somewhat of a surprise that Beal declined his option, as the injury-prone star hasn’t appeared in more than 60 games in a season since his 2018-19 All-Star campaign with the Washington Wizards.
Warriors’ changing of the guard?
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is reportedly declining his $27.7 million player option to become a free agent, but that might not be the biggest move to come. ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped the news nugget that the move gives the Warriors flexibility to pursue LeBron James in free agency and Anthony Davis via trade.
Such seismic moves would certainly make Golden State must-watch TV again, if not the favorites to win another NBA title. The Pistons will be glad to be in the Eastern Conference if that super team forms. As for Green? He likely is not a Pistons target given what they need, but it’s an interesting thought experiment.
Malik Beasley indicted for gambling
Former Pistons guard Malik Beasley has been indicted on federal charges for gambling related to a sports betting scheme, such as point shaving and prop bets, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania. The government is reportedly coordinating a voluntary surrender of Beasley this week.
Kawhi Leonard trade rumors
The Pistons during the draft were mentioned as a team to watch on the Kawhi Leonard trade front, should he and the Clippers entertain a parting. Leonard is on a $50.3 million expiring deal. Since then, it was reported Leonard would not be interested in extending with the Pistons, likely taking them out of the pursuit, The Stein Line reported.
On Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks emerged as a favorite to acquire Leonard for a package to include P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and picks. The Mavs are led by new president Masai Ujiri, who was the Toronto Raptors top executive when they traded for Leonard in 2018 – and won the NBA title the next season. (The Mavs, of course, just hired Michigan’s Dusty May as coach.) The Raptors are also in the mix to reclaim Leonard, with Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reporting they have had “real trade conversations this weekend” with Los Angeles.
Pistons’ next move in NBA free agency?
Several potential fits for the Pistons have already agreed to new deals with their teams. Austin Reaves re-signed with the Lakers with a potential Pistons max offer looming, Ayo Dosunmu re-signed with the Timberwolves and Coby White re-signed with the Hornets. So who is left?
The Pistons still have a need at power forward, as they lack one on the current roster. They could bring back Tobias Harris, they could swing another trade or do both.
Top free agents who could be a match include Heat guard Norman Powell, Lakers power forward Rui Hachimura, Clippers power forward John Collins and a Lakers forward you’ve probably heard of … LeBron James – though the Pistons would probably need to open up cap space to get James, if the league’s all-time leading scorer were at all amenable to Detroit.
Trade market buzz includes Celtics wing Jaylen Brown and Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III. Bucks guard Tyler Herro could also be revisited by the Pistons, though Friday’s savvy trade for Isaiah Joe helps solve their shooting need.
Pistons depth chart entering free agency
Here’s an early look at the Pistons’ depth chart entering free agency. For this exercise, we’ll assume Jalen Duren re-signs, Tolu Smith’s team option is picked up (becomes non-guaranteed) and second-round pick Ugonna Onyenso is signed to a two-way deal, meaning the Pistons would have two open roster spots.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons trade rumors, updates and NBA free agency news
Reporting by Marlowe Alter and Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Marlowe Alter and Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
