DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons are the story of the season for the second year running. They sit first in the Eastern Conference with a 28–10 record. They are on pace to smash their preseason 46.5 win total. That is why the time is now for the Pistons to consolidate success with a Kawhi Leonard trade.
Pistons Urged To Land Kawhi Leonard In Bridge Deal
Head coach JB Bickerstaff has built on last season’s momentum. The team reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018–19. Cade Cunningham’s rise has fueled that growth. He now sits firmly in MVP conversations. Detroit has forged a hard-nosed, defense-first identity. They own the league’s second-best defense. They also pair it with a top-ten offense. Detroit now sits in position to win its first playoff series since 2008. A deep playoff run may still be out of reach.
Cunningham Dependency And Playoff Risk
Detroit’s only real concern lies in its dependence on Cunningham. He averages roughly 27 points, six rebounds, and nearly ten assists. He also averages two stocks per game. Jalen Duren ranks second in scoring. He trails Cunningham by almost nine points at 17.9. The playmaking gap is even wider. Cunningham has more assists than the next three teammates combined.
This heliocentric offense thrives in the regular season. It often stalls in the postseason. Series play allows opponents to study tendencies. Over two weeks, teams adjust. Even with Cunningham’s brilliance, defenses will attack his weaknesses. Teams will eventually figure him out. Detroit needs a secondary star to counter that pressure. Kawhi Leonard fits that need.
The Leonard Bridge Proposal
Leonard has turned heads since mid-December. The Clippers recovered from a brutal 6–21 start. They now sit at 16–23, just one game from the final play-in spot. Los Angeles lacks control of its future draft picks. That reality limits flexibility. Detroit can offer a clean exit.
Proposed deal:
Pistons receive: Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul
Clippers receive: Tobias Harris , Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser, Isaac Jones , one unprotected first-round pick, one protected first-round pick, three second-round picks
This move gives Detroit two proven winners. Leonard brings championship pedigree. Paul brings leadership, even in a limited role. Leonard becomes Cunningham’s short-term running mate. His shorter timeline makes him a bridge piece. That window allows Duren and Ausar Thompson to mature into long-term pillars.
The deal benefits Los Angeles as well. It closes the book on the Leonard era. It delivers a young guard in Ivey and valuable draft capital. The Clippers can reset before looming league penalties. Stockpiling picks helps them absorb any incoming punishment. This deal serves both timelines cleanly.
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