The Detroit Pistons are remaining patient ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Thursday, February 5th. Sunday’s dominance against the Brooklyn Nets had plenty of examples of why.
It was the biggest win in franchise history — a 53-point victory over one of the league’s worst teams. All-Star starter Cade Cunningham had a near-perfect performance, including four steals and three blocks. Newly named All-Star reserve Jalen Duren has the paint and glass. Osar Thompson wreaked havoc on opposing ball handlers and passing lanes.
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This performance keeps the Pistons in first place in the Eastern Conference by 5.5 games, which shows why the front office is confident in the team’s future. They’re 36-12, on pace for 61 wins and have one of the league’s youngest cores.
There is a reluctance to shake up a team that has exceeded expectations and is not yet playing its best basketball on paper. The Pistons’ top players are all under 24 years old. But one name keeps popping up in the rumors.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. plays against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 2026 in New York City.
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Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., who has been one of the hottest names on the market, missed Sunday’s game in Detroit due to “personal reasons” listed in the NBA’s availability report. Many around the league have long considered him an ideal fit for the Pistons, who need what he brings to the table — shooting ability at the four and a true second option that can take pressure off Cunningham.
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NBA insider Mark Stein reported Saturday that the Pistons “continue to internally weigh the idea of pursuing” Porter or Charlotte Hornets forward (Michigan State alum) Miles Bridges. Recent history shows that the Pistons need a scorer of Porter’s caliber to advance to the NBA Finals.
Here’s why Porter makes sense, and what it might cost to acquire him.
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It was a career season for the 6-foot-10 forward, who averaged 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 48.2 percent from the field (including 39.8 percent from three-point range). Porter has strong championship credentials as the third option behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray after winning a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
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No matter how you look at it, he is one of the best shooters in the league. He ranks fourth in the league in three-point attempts per game (9.6) and ranks 81st percentile among wings in field goal percentage, according to Cleaning the Glass. But his impact goes beyond just his shooting: He’s also a strong finisher and has taken a step forward as a playmaker this season.
Despite the Pistons’ inconsistent performance from beyond the arc, Porter will elevate the Pistons’ offense to a slightly above-average offensive ranking. Detroit has the fourth-lowest 3-point shooting percentage in the league and is holding them back at 34.9 percent, tied for 21st (tied with the Indiana Pacers). Poor shooting has hurt the Pistons in recent games — 21.9 percent from three in a Jan. 23 home loss to the Houston Rockets; 19.4 percent in Tuesday’s narrow road win over the Denver Nuggets; and 20.7 percent in Thursday’s road loss to the Phoenix Suns.
The Pistons’ spacing has relied on Duncan Robinson, a knockdown shooter in his own right, who shot 39.3 percent from the field this season. Porter is one of the best shooters Detroit could ever land. More importantly, he’s an efficient, high-scoring scorer who could diversify the Pistons’ offense and make it difficult for opposing defenses to throw multiple bodies at Cunningham.
Michael Porter Jr. trade valid
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) and Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann (14) dribble during the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
The 27-year-old will make $38.3 million this season and $40.8 million in the final year of his contract next season. That’s a high number, but it would be a write-off of Thompson’s contract before he could potentially sign an extension through the 2027-28 season. This move:
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The Pistons sent: Tobias Harris, Caris LeVert, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick (top four protected).
Nets send: Michael Porter Jr.
It would be difficult to come up with a realistic deal for Porter without including Harris, as his $26.6 million expiring contract is necessary for salary matching purposes. Combined with LeVert’s $14.1 million salary, it’s an almost perfect match. LeVert has one season left on his contract, worth $14.8 million.
The upside of this deal to the Nets is getting two first-round picks, with the 2028 pick being lightly protected in favor of the Pistons. Given that this year’s first-round pick is likely to be one of the eventual first-round picks based on the Pistons’ current trajectory, it may take more than one pick to entice the Nets to make a trade.
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Please contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: NBA trade deadline Detroit Pistons: Michael Porter Jr. will help
