DETROIT >> The offseason had been fairly quiet for the Detroit Pistons, but the start of free agency on June 30 propelled the franchise into a busy summer. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon began assembling a roster that could build upon the success of last season, in which the Pistons won 44 games and qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2019.

Although the Pistons’ success came as a surprise, Langdon vowed that the team would not deviate from its original plan of building sustainable success.

However, with each move the Pistons have made so far this summer, their decisions have been regarded as a way to replenish the talent they lost, whether to rival teams or unforeseen circumstances. Detroit might make one more roster move before the start of next season. But as deals and signings start to become finalized, here is an early look at the Pistons’ roster for the 2025-26 season.

Backcourt

• Point guards: Cade Cunningham, Caris LeVert

• Shooting guards: Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser, Chaz Lanier

• Key losses: Malik Beasley (likely), Dennis Schröder

• Outlook: The Pistons’ backcourt has seen significant changes this summer, particularly due to the departure of Dennis Schröder and the likely departure of Malik Beasley. Beasley, who is under investigation for gambling, was the Sixth Man for Detroit and finished second in the annual award voting. Schröder, acquired in a deal at the NBA Trade Deadline in February, served as a secondary ball-handler for the Pistons during the latter half of last season.

While Langdon believes that Chaz Lanier has the potential for a minor role as a rookie, the signing of Caris LeVert could help fill the vacancies left by Beasley and Schröder.

LeVert will take on the role as the Pistons’ Sixth Man, serving as Detroit’s secondary facilitator and scorer. It’s a role the former Michigan star has excelled in since starting his career with the Brooklyn Nets in 2016, with career averages of 14.0 points, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals across 524 games.

Due to his scrappiness, LeVert will be a valuable addition to Detroit’s defense, but the veteran guard will not be able to replace the 3-point shooting Beasley provided. However, with a collaborative effort required to fill the gap, Marcus Sasser may take on a more critical role within J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation. He makes for a practical option, considering that Sasser shot 37.8% from behind the arc through his first two seasons in the league.

Following the losses of Beasley and Schröder, the Pistons’ bench will be significantly different next season. But their starting backcourt will stay the same for what could be the best year yet for the Cade Cunningham-Jaden Ivey pairing.

The Pistons expect Cunningham to build upon his All-NBA season, and for Ivey to return to the near-All-Star level he was playing at before his season was cut short in January. Prior to going down with a broken left fibula, Ivey was in the middle of the best season of his career, averaging 17.6 points on 46% shooting, 40.9% from behind the arc, 4.1 rebounds, and four assists through 30 games.

Frontcourt

• Small forwards: Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland II, Duncan Robinson

• Power forwards: Tobias Harris, Bobi Klintman

• Key losses: Simone Fontecchio, Tim Hardaway Jr.• Outlook: While Beasley could go down as the most significant loss of the offseason, Tim Hardaway Jr. may be the second most crucial departure. He was one of three veterans who helped change the franchise’s dreadful culture while improving the team’s 3-point shooting. Hardaway shot 36.1% from deep with 168 made triples. Detroit finished the regular season ranked 17th in 3-point shooting (36.2%), a substantial improvement from its 26th ranking the previous year (34.8%).

Despite the losses of Beasley and Hardaway, the Pistons should be able to maintain their ability to shoot the 3-ball following the acquisition of Duncan Robinson.

Since entering the league as an undrafted prospect in 2018, Robinson has established himself as one of the best sharpshooters in the NBA. In 423 career games played with the Miami Heat, Robinson has possessed the league’s second-highest 3-point shooting percentage at 39.7% — only trailing future Hall-of-Famer Stephen Curry (41.0%).

While sharing Sixth Man duties with LeVert, the addition of Robinson gives the Pistons a facilitator for the frontcourt, while also helping the team maintain an effective bench unit. The Pistons’ frontcourt reserve will receive a boost from Ron Holland II and Bobi Klintman, second-year players whose experience is expected to lead to increased playing time in Bickerstaff’s rotation.

The starting forward positions will remain unchanged, with Ausar Thompson at small forward and Tobias Harris at power forward. Harris will continue to serve as the team’s safety blanket due to his on-court production and veteran presence. However, Thompson could overtake Harris as Detroit’s most vital forward.

This summer marks Thompson’s first offseason where he can focus solely on improving his on-court attributes, rather than rehabbing. Despite a delay to his second season, Thompson still showcased his two-way versatility, averaging 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals across 59 games.

Big Men

• Centers: Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, Paul Reed

• Key losses: None

• Outlook: The Pistons’ center position is the only aspect of their roster that remained unchanged. At the start of free agency, they re-signed Paul Reed to a two-year deal, and he will continue to serve as an emergency backup during the absences of Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart.

Stewart will continue to serve as Detroit’s primary reserve and defensive anchor off the bench, while Duren remains the starting center and a consistent threat to record double-doubles.

Last season, Stewart led all bench players in blocks with an average of 1.4. Duren demonstrated significant improvements in his production during the Pistons’ six-game playoff series against the Knicks, where he averaged 11.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.