Pistons preseason opener spotlights roster battles

After a breakthrough season that ended in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Pistons enter 2026-27 with a largely young core and a tougher conference to navigate. Detroit added John Collins to replace Tobias Harris, brought in shooters and drafted guard Ebuka Okorie, while Jalen Duren agreed to a five-year extension after a prolonged negotiation. The roster changes are intended to improve spacing and secondary shot creation, areas that hurt Detroit in the playoffs, though the team also lost veterans including Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser. Okorie has impressed in preseason and could eventually provide a needed creator, while Collins is expected to add floor spacing in the starting lineup. Kevin Huerter’s three-year, $27 million deal remains a point of concern: his recent shooting record and quiet preseason opener have prompted questions about whether Detroit overpaid for a dependable outside threat.