Why the Pistons are one of the NBA offseason's most interesting teams
The Detroit Pistons earned the Eastern Conference's top seed in the 2025-26 regular season by winning 60 games, but a second-round exit at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers pointed out flaws the Pistons still need to fix before they will be considered a serious title contender.
Cade Cunningham is the unquestioned top star in Detroit, but how they construct the roster around him is up in the air. The Pistons have quickly become one of the most interesting teams to watch this offseason after making two early trades, and it seems they are just beginning their efforts to reshape their roster to look very different in 2026-27.
Detroit flipped Isaiah Stewart to Memphis for three second-round picks during the NBA Draft this week to clear out cap space, and most recently traded two second-round picks to Oklahoma City to nab sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, per ESPN. The Pistons clearly took their offensive shortcomings in the postseason to heart, and their two early moves illustrate their priorities this summer.
It's not often a team coming off a 60-win season has the kind of impetus to shake things up and the ammunition to do so -- Detroit can get to $33 million in cap space if it wants to -- as the Pistons this summer. That makes them one of the league's most interesting teams to watch, and it all starts with how they handle their biggest free agent.
Jalen Duren's restricted free agency saga
Jalen Duren, an All-NBA and All-Star center in the 2025-26 season for Detroit, is a restricted free agent. Contract negotiations with Duren reportedly have stalled out, and he is now seeking sign-and-trade options to find a new home outside of Detroit. Figuring out Duren's value was always going to be a tricky proposition. It comes as little surprise the two sides have reached an impasse. Duren was sensational in the regular season to get a well-earned All-Star spot, but his Houdini act in the playoffs (Duren's scoring average dropped by 9.3 points from the regular season to the postseason) raised serious questions about him as a foundational piece of a hopeful championship squad.
As so often happens in restricted free agency when the answer isn't obviously to offer a max contract, Detroit has drawn a line in the sand in negotiations that Duren's side feels is too low. Duren now has two options.
One is to find a team with enough cap space willing to sign him to an offer sheet and risk tying up their money waiting for Detroit's response. Offer sheets have become an endangered species in recent years, but the closest comparison to the Duren situation might be DeAndre Ayton in Phoenix a few years ago, when he had to get the Pacers to throw him a max offer sheet to force the Suns to match.
The other option, and the one that Duren is reportedly going to explore beginning on Tuesday, is to find a team that will pay him more than Detroit is willing to and is willing to send something Detroit wants back in a sign-and-trade. That represents its own challenge because the Pistons don't have to facilitate such a request if they don't feel like the return is strong enough to give up their All-Star center.
As Chris Haynes reported on Friday, the Pistons don't plan on giving up Duren -- which makes sense given they just got rid of Stewart and would be completely out of center depth if they let Duren walk. However, they're not going to bid against themselves and until the market sets a new bar for Duren negotiations and the Pistons are forced to decide between giving Duren a bigger deal or shipping him out, the two sides will remain at a stalemate.
'Big-game hunting?'
Detroit is, by all accounts, hoping to make a splash this summer, but is running into some problems on that front.
The Pistons were one of the biggest threats to the Lakers when it came to Austin Reaves' free agency, but with L.A. getting a max deal done with Reaves this week, that took one big option off the board. Detroit was also noted as a serious suitor for Kawhi Leonard, but those dreams were dashed by more recent reporting that Leonard wouldn't be willing to sign an extension in Detroit and would only do so in San Antonio and Toronto. Per Jake Fischer, that has dropped Detroit out of the running for the Clippers' star and forced them to look elsewhere in their quest for a secondary star alongside Cunningham.
Brian Windhorst floated the Pistons as a team that could make a run at LeBron James as he looks to figure out the next and possibly final chapter of his career. That also seems unlikely, as James seems far more interested in remaining in California -- either with the Lakers or Warriors -- than moving back to the midwest for a non-Cleveland destination. Detroit's only chance to land LeBron is to offer him considerably more than his preferred destinations, and it'd be fair to question if that's the best use of their cap space.
That brings us to Jaylen Brown, the new hot name on the trade market after the Boston Celtics took the risk of including him in talks with Milwaukee about Antetokounmpo. Brown is now widely expected to be moved, and while the Celtics would prefer to send him to the West, Detroit could make a compelling offer in the form of a Duren sign-and-trade, as Fischer reported as a possibility. If there were a player worth parting with Duren for, Brown would fit the bill and give them the secondary star they crave on the wing alongside Cunningham. That would bring its own challenges of filling out their frontcourt rotation, but Brown and Cunningham would immediately be among the top duos in the league.
'Medium-game hunting' feels more likely
Landing one of those top stars is going to be incredibly challenging for Detroit, but with the cap space they've cleared they can pivot to some quality players who are below that All-NBA caliber tier should their main pursuits fizzle out.
The one everyone immediately tied Detroit to after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade was Norman Powell, as the Heat will need Powell to take a discount to remain in Miami now that they're hard-capped at the first apron. That opens the door for a team like Detroit, which is desperate to add that kind of secondary scorer, to make Powell an offer well above what Miami is capable of to pry him out of South Florida.
Detroit has been linked to just about every big name from both Los Angeles squads, so why not add another in Rui Hachimura. The Pistons desperately need more shooting and Hachimura's become one of the best shooting forwards since joining the Lakers, hitting 44.3% of his 3s in 2025-26. He's not the kind of secondary creator they want, but would give them something of a younger version of Tobias Harris if they wanted to replace the veteran. John Collins could also fit the bill for filling out the frontcourt rotation with some shooting.
As much as Detroit wants to land a bona fide star to fit between Cunningham and Duren, it's more likely the Pistons have to fill out their roster from this tier of player, either in free agency or via trade. That route still presents the opportunity for upgrades, and as the free agency frenzy begins on Tuesday evening, few teams will be more active than Detroit.
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.'
