A blockbuster plan from the Pistons: LeBron and Kawhi

One of the NBA's rising sides, the Detroit Pistons, are planning a major addition to their roster this offseason. Per information voiced by ESPN's NBA insider Brian Windhorst on the 2026 NBA Draft broadcast, the Pistons, who finished top of the Eastern Conference, could go "big-game hunting" with the room they have cleared on their salary cap, with star names like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard on their agenda.

At the heart of this plan is a move the Pistons made on draft night. Detroit traded center Isaiah Stewart, one of the most senior players on their roster, to the Memphis Grizzlies in return for three second-round picks. By clearing significant room on their cap with this move, the Pistons gained the flexibility to take on a big salary. Assessing the situation on the broadcast, Windhorst said the team could go "big-game hunting" and even that they had "cleared enough space to call LeBron James if they wanted to."

Of the two names on the agenda, LeBron James is the easier target on paper, as he is a free agent. But with the Los Angeles Lakers, who added Luka Doncic in 2025, turning into a Doncic-centred team, James's future has become uncertain. The chance to play with a rising playmaker like Cade Cunningham could make Detroit an appealing destination for James; but whether the Akron star would choose Detroit remains unclear. There is talk that the Pistons' real needs are scoring and playmaking, and that they are seeking additions at power forward and shooting guard.

The other target, Kawhi Leonard, is a name who could arrive via trade. With Los Angeles Clippers man Leonard's future still unclear, Windhorst said Detroit could also be keeping a close eye on his situation. For Leonard, who put up a high-level performance with points, rebounds and assists across 65 games last season, sides like the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors are also said to be involved. The free-agency negotiating period opening on June 30 is seen as a critical threshold for Detroit's ambitious plans.

Source: ESPN
Image: Yahoo Sports