The Detroit Pistons’ effort to find a high-level co-star for Cade Cunningham has run into yet another major hurdle.
After missing out on Tyler Herro when Miami dealt him as part of the massive Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, watching Austin Reaves choose to stay with the Lakers, and seeing Coby White lock up his future with Charlotte, Detroit now faces the possibility that its latest target doesn’t see the franchise as a place to settle down either.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Kawhi Leonard would not be open to signing a contract extension with the Pistons if Detroit acquired him via trade this coming offseason.
Fischer also noted that Leonard would only agree to an extension with two specific teams in the event of a trade: the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs—the only organizations he has previously played for.
This development deals another tough blow to a Pistons front office that has been actively trying to bring in another All-Star talent alongside Cunningham following the team’s strong regular-season performance.
Kawhi Leonard Report Reshapes Detroit’s Trade Calculations
Leonard’s name came up earlier this week when ESPN’s Brian Windhorst floated the idea that Detroit might pursue major trade opportunities after moving veteran big man Isaiah Stewart during the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
“What if they go big-game hunting?” Windhorst asked on ESPN. “What if they check on the availability of Kawhi Leonard?”
Detroit’s decision to trade Stewart was about more than just clearing salary.
The move gave the team additional cap flexibility, created a $15 million traded player exception, and brought back three future second-round picks, providing president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon with more avenues to add another difference-maker around Cunningham.
Leonard quickly became one of the more prominent names linked to that kind of approach.
But Fischer’s newest information significantly alters the picture.
Giving up premium assets for a 35-year-old superstar who is entering the final season of his deal becomes far more questionable if there’s little likelihood of persuading him to stay past that single year.
Leonard Said to Favor Only Two Specific Teams
Fischer’s report adds a new wrinkle to Leonard’s unsettled situation.
Rather than keeping all possibilities open, Leonard is reportedly only interested in signing an extension with Toronto or San Antonio if he’s moved.
Both cities represent key moments in his career arc.
Leonard captured the 2014 NBA championship and Finals MVP with the Spurs, then delivered another title and Finals MVP to the Raptors in 2019.
Detroit, however, is apparently not on his list.
That leaves the Pistons facing the possibility of surrendering valuable pieces for what might end up being a one-year rental.
Detroit Continues to Watch Options Slip Away
The Leonard news adds to a growing list of offseason frustrations for the Pistons.
Detroit had been connected to Tyler Herro before Miami wound up including him in its package for Antetokounmpo, removing one of Detroit’s preferred offensive targets.
Austin Reaves, another player viewed as a strong stylistic match alongside Cunningham, instead signed a four-year, $185 million max deal to stay with the Lakers.
Yet another backcourt option was taken off the board on Thursday.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Coby White plans to sign a three-year, $74 million contract to remain with Charlotte, where he’s expected to take over as the starting point guard after the Hornets traded LaMelo Ball to Minnesota.
White had been with the Hornets since arriving at last season’s trade deadline, but his new agreement officially eliminates him from Detroit’s list of realistic targets.
Now Leonard appears to have minimal interest in making Detroit his permanent home.
For Langdon and the Pistons, potential co-stars keep coming off the market one after another.
Detroit still holds the assets needed to make a significant move.
But finding the right star who actually wants to build something long-term alongside Cunningham is shaping up as the franchise’s biggest challenge this offseason.
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