The Detroit Pistons are aiming to bolster their roster after an encouraging season that came to a disappointing end with a second-round playoff exit.
Fresh off securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons have reportedly set their sights on acquiring two-time NBA All-Star Zach LaVine from the Sacramento Kings.
According to Marc Stein, LaVine is just one of several offseason targets for Detroit, with the list also including Isaiah Joe of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Coby White of the Charlotte Hornets.
Stein wrote on his Substack: “Other players regarded as potentially available and said to interest Detroit include Charlotte’s Coby White, Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Joe, and possibly even Sacramento’s Zach LaVine now that LaVine is heading into the final year of a massive contract with a $49 million player option that carries a June 29 deadline to be activated.”
What Would Zach LaVine Bring to Detroit?
LaVine would provide the Pistons with a high-level on-ball shot-creator alongside Cade Cunningham. During his time with the Kings, LaVine put up averages of 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, while shooting 47.9% from the floor.
Detroit entered the offseason with a clear need for a secondary ball-handler and offensive initiator. Apart from Cunningham, only Tobias Harris offered reliable on-ball scoring production, a shortcoming that became especially apparent during the postseason.
The Pistons managed to rally from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Orlando Magic in the first round, but their run ended in a seven-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland would later be swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.
LaVine, now 31, is approaching the final season of his five-year, $215.1 million deal. He holds a $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign.
Zach LaVine Wants To Win
Following a 2025-2026 season in which the Kings managed just 22 victories, LaVine openly expressed his desire to compete in a winning atmosphere.
During his end-of-season media availability, LaVine stated that he has reached a stage in his career where he prioritizes joining a successful team, though he and his representatives will continue weighing all factors as the deadline for his player option approaches.
“Where I’m at in my career is we want to win. I’ll speak for myself, obviously,” LaVine said. “I’ll go back and talk to my representative and figure out what’s the best course of action. I think that goes along with him as what’s most important to you right now and what makes sense. Obviously, having a player option is a good thing in my camp. We’ll go back and look at everything, look at all the scenarios, watch the playoffs and see what happens.”
Should he end up in Detroit, LaVine would be expected to play a key role for one of the Eastern Conference’s most rapidly improving teams. He would also step into a situation where significant offensive responsibilities would fall on his shoulders.
Still, any potential deal between the Pistons and Kings hinges on LaVine’s decision regarding his contract, which must come before either side can move forward with offseason negotiations.
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