Isaiah Stewart trade grades: Pistons get important cap space, Grizzlies get valuable backup big
We got our first and only trade involving a veteran player in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night. After making it through the entire first round on Tuesday without a known commodity getting dealt, the Grizzlies and Pistons finally made a trade involving a player when Detroit sent backup center Isaiah Stewart to Memphis. The trade, ironically enough, involves the very same second-round picks that Detroit sent Memphis on Tuesday to move up from No. 21 to No. 17 in the first round, according to Jake Fischer.
Isaiah Stewart trade details
- Grizzlies receive: Isaiah Stewart
- Pistons receive: 2029 second-round pick (most favorable of Knicks, Pistons, Bucks), 2031 second-round pick (via Mavericks), 2032 second-round pick (via Pistons).
So, what was the rationale behind this deal? Let's grade the trade and find out.
Memphis Grizzlies: B
The Grizzlies are remaking their roster this offseason, and they're starting that process in the front court. They drafted Cameron Boozer No. 3 overall on Tuesday, and then surprisingly used their second first-round pick, No. 21 after two trades, on another power forward in Karim Lopez. GG Jackson and Santi Aldama are both still on the roster, and of course, recent No. 9 overall pick Zach Edey is a foundational piece in Memphis.
So, why add Stewart? Because front-court depth is important, especially to Memphis. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo prefers to use his players for shorter bursts and get them multiple rests per half so they can play at maximum effort while they're on the floor. Jaren Jackson Jr., who has already been traded to Utah, and Ja Morant, whom the Grizzlies are currently trying to trade, are the only two players on last year's Grizzlies aside from their end-of-season fliers who played more than 28 minutes per game last season. If Memphis is going to sit its best players this much, it needs strong backups.
That is especially important with Edey at center. He played only 11 games last season, and across his 66 total NBA appearances, he has averaged just 22.1 minutes per game. At 7-3 with a listed weight above 300 pounds, the Grizzlies have to be cautious with Edey's workload, which means investing quite a bit in front-court players for the bench.
So, what kind of player are the Grizzlies getting in Stewart? One of the best rim-protecting backups in the NBA. Even at 6-foot-8, Stewart was a defensive force as Detroit's backup center last season. Opponents shot just 49.6% within six feet of the basket with Stewart as their primary defender last season, according to NBA.com. That's the best figure on Detroit's No. 2-ranked defense. The 0.95 points per shot he allowed that the rim ranked in the 93rd percentile among all defenders last season, according to Synergy Sports.
Offensively, Stewart was at one time a somewhat interesting stretch big prospect. In his fourth NBA season two years ago, he took almost four 3-pointers per game and made over 38% of them. Those shooting numbers have plummeted since JB Bickerstaff took over in Detroit, but perhaps a change of scenery reopens that door. His offense is otherwise problematic. Part of Detroit's rationale for trading him was its inability to score with him on the floor in the playoffs.
Those offensive questions make Stewart a questionable long-term play at major money, but he has a $15 million team option for the 2027-28 season. This is a relatively minor commitment for Memphis on a player who hung around the fringes of the Sixth Man of the Year conversation. Stewart is still only 25 and could stick around longer if the fit works out. It's hard to do much better for three second-round picks.
Detroit Pistons: B
Detroit's center rotation was cheap last season. It will not be cheap next season, with Jalen Duren presumably getting a big contract in restricted free agency this offseason. When Duren was on a rookie contract, the Pistons could afford to pay multiple backup centers. Now that he's about to make market rate, they had to choose: Stewart, or Paul Reed? The Pistons ultimately landed on Reed, whose offense made him more reliable in the playoffs.
Offense was Detroit's problem in the playoffs. They scored just 90.5 points per play in the half-court across their two seven-game series, according to Cleaning the Glass. Cade Cunningham was Detroit's only reliable creator in the playoffs, and he had to generate shots with minimal spacing because two of Detroit's best players, Duren and Ausar Thompson, are non-shooting threats. The Pistons had to get better on offense. They'll now have the means to do so.
By renouncing their own free agents (most notably, Tobias Harris and the partially-guaranteed Duncan Robinson), the Pistons can now get to around $33 million in cap space this summer with Stewart's $15 million off of their books, according to Yossi Gozlan. If they prefer to keep Harris and Robinson, they could instead operate above the cap and expand the Stewart trade to take back up to $24 million in salary while then having the ability to use the mid-level exception. Getting Stewart off of their books opens up more room below the first-apron hard cap that using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception would create.
Detroit apparently plans to be aggressive with this newfound flexibility. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on the draft broadcast that the Pistons are going "big-game hunting" here, and even mentioned LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard as possible targets with the money they opened up. Even if they don't land a true star, there's plenty of offense out there for them to pursue this summer.
The Pistons have been linked to just about every available guard this offseason, and now they can control the market. If they want to pursue Norman Powell in free agency, they're the obvious cap space fit for him. They were linked to Tyler Herro during the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga. Well, he makes $33 million the dot, so the Pistons could potentially absorb him without forcing the Bucks to take on money they don't want.
Detroit has even reportedly showed interest in Zach LaVine, sitting on an enormous $49 million expiring salary. They'd probably prefer to chase him on a buyout, but perhaps now they could construct a trade with Caris LeVert as the primary outgoing salary. Considering such a move would take the Kings out of the luxury tax and save them an enormous amount of money, they might even be able to convince Sacramento to surrender some draft capital in the process. Maybe LaVine would even extend on team-friendly terms for the chance to play for a winner.
The possibilities aren't quite endless. Their best shot at a young, max-quality scorer went up in flames on Wednesday when Austin Reaves re-signed with the Lakers. It's going to be an uphill battle to convince players like James and Leonard to spend a winter in Detroit.
But the Pistons could go in a lot of interesting directions after getting off of Stewart's contract. They'll now presumably chase the shooting and secondary creation they so lacked next to Cunningham in the playoffs, and with Reed taking on full-time backup center duties, Detroit is taking real steps towards balancing offense and defense on their up-and-coming roster.
Add CBS Sports on GoogleBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
