RealGM Basketball Wiretap

09 May 2025

• Pistons Debated Stanley Johnson, Devin Booker At 2015 Draft

  At the 2015 NBA draft, the Detroit Pistons had a decision to make with the No. 8 pick and narrowed their options to Stanley Johnson and Devin Booker. The Pistons selected Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at No. 8 in the 2013 draft and was perceived as having more positional overlap with Booker than Johnson. Johnson's strength and profile projected him as being more of a small forward who could also play power forward in some lineup configurations.

  "This is one of the things I learned afterwards, but I actually believe is true," said Zach Lowe this week. "And is not just spin. Because it's actually more embarrassing for them. It was Stanley Johnson or Devin Booker. [That] was their draft room debate. And they chose Stanley Johnson."

  Booker grew up in the Detroit area and was a fan of the Pistons during his childhood. Booker was on record ahead of the draft saying he hoped to be selected by the Pistons.

  From Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press:

  "'Growing up watching the team and just loving the dynasty that they had here and being a part of it,' he said, 'I think I understand the meaning of having Detroit Pistons across my chest.' Booker's dream of becoming a Piston could be a problem, however, because the team already has Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jodie Meeks at shooting guard. At 6-feet-6, would he be versatile enough to play small forward? 'I think I am,' he said. 'I'm still growing into my body. I'm working on it. I saw a statistic where the last five NBA champions led the NBA in three-point shooting, and that's what I do.' Booker hit 58 threes in his only season at Kentucky and, during one stretch, made 20 of 28. He averaged 10 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in his short stay with the Wildcats. Scouts compare his game to Klay Thompson of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. He admits that Thompson is a player he watches. Growing up, it was Richard Hamilton. 'I watched a lot of Rip; it's crazy now, because I really wasn't a shooter back then,' he said. 'I was just one of the bigger kids. I loved the way Rip played. Big Shot (Chauncey) Billups and Tayshaun's (Prince) block. I remember everything.'"

  Booker fell to the Phoenix Suns at No. 13 and he is a multiple All-NBA selection and helped lead the franchise to The Finals in 2021.

• Malik Beasley Wants To Stay With Pistons

  In the wake of his team's playoff loss to the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons wing Malik Beasley reflected on being part of a 28-win turnaround this season. Beasley made it clear he's appreciative of the environment the team's leadership created.

  "In my whole 9 years in the NBA, I never had as much fun coming to the gym," Beasley said. "I've been through a lot of stuff just this year alone. Every day coming in was probably the best thing that happened to me."

  Beasley credited that Pistons coach J.B Bickerstaff and front office executive Trajan Langdon.

  "Coach JB and Trajan did an amazing job of making sure when you come in here, it's fun and it's energetic, it's a place you want to be. It's a place you want to be," Beasley said. "It's definitely a place I want to be."

  Beasley will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He's coming off one-year, $6 million contract. That leaves the Pistons with only non-Bird rights for the veteran shooting guard. Detroit could create cap space this summer to help re-sign Beasley, or they could offer him the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, which projects to be worth $14.1 million for the 2025-26 season.

• Jaden Ivey Cleared For 1-On-1 Drills

  Jaden Ivey has been progressing in his recovery from a broken leg and has been cleared for 1-on-1 drills.

  Ivey suffered the injury on January 1.

  Ivey averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 30 games (all starts) this season.

  Isaiah Stewart may also be out for the rest of the first round against the Knicks, according to J.B. Bickerstaff.

• Isaiah Stewart Might Be Out For First Round Due To Knee Injury

  Isaiah Stewart is out for Game 4 against the New York Knicks due to a knee injury.

  Stewart, who played in the series opener, will now miss his third straight game.

  J.B. Bickerstaff said that Stewart may not be able to return in the first round.

  "It would be really difficult to put him in the situation," Bickerstaff said.

  Game 5 takes place on Tuesday.

• Isaiah Stewart Misses Game 3 Loss With Right Knee Injury

  Isaiah Stewart missed the Detroit Pistons' 118-116 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3 due to a right knee injury,

  Stewart has now missed two games in a row with the injury.

  Stewart finished with two points and five rebounds in 19 minutes in Game 1.

• Isaiah Stewart Underwent Imaging On His Leg After Game 1

  Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart was spotted hobbling with a leg injury during his team's Game 1 loss at the New York Knicks. Stewart reportedly underwent imaging following Game 1 to determine the extent of the injury.

  No injury update for Stewart has been provided by the Pistons as of yet. With Game 2 of the first-round series scheduled for Monday, Detroit will provide an injury report later in the day on Sunday.

  Stewart exited Game 1 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Knicks then went on a big run to take control of the game. Stewart didn't return after playing 18 minutes, which was below his regular season average of 20 minutes.

• 2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchups Set As Regular Season Concludes

  The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.

  The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

  The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

  Western Conference
  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
  • (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
  • (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
  • (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

  Eastern Conference
  • (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
  • (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
  
  NBA Play-In Tournament
  Western Conference
  • (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 - 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 - 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
  
  Eastern Conference
  • (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 - 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

• Jaden Ivey Cleared To Resume Basketball Activities

  Jaden Ivey has been cleared to resume basketball activities after suffering a broken left fibula on January 1st. Ivey is entering the first phase of a re-conditioning program and that his status will be updated again in two weeks.

  The Detroit Pistons will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, which could potentially allow Ivey to return this season.

  Ivey averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 30 games (all starts) this season.

• J.B. Bickerstaff On Pistons Making Playoffs: 'It's A Big Deal'

  The Detroit Pistons clinched a playoff berth on Friday night following a 117-105 win over the Toronto Raptors.

  "It's a big deal," said J.B. Bickerstaff. "We typically don't take time to reflect on where we are, but this is an opportunity for this group to reflect on where it is, where it's come from and what it's been able to accomplish together."

  The Pistons finished with the worst record in the league last season. No team has gone from winning 14 games to making the playoffs the following year.

  "We're not done yet," said Jalen Duren. "We're going to take a moment to enjoy what we've accomplished, but it's only milestones. The real goal, obviously, is to bring championships back to our city."

  The Pistons have not won a playoff series since 2008.

• Cade Cunningham: I Think I Can Be The Best Basketball Player In The World

  Cade Cunningham has emerged as the driving force behind one of the most remarkable single-season turnarounds in NBA history, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 42-32 record after the franchise posted just 14 wins last season. The former No. 1 overall pick has silenced critics while establishing himself as a frontrunner for the NBA's Most Improved Player award.

  "I think I can be the best basketball player in the world. I think I'm on my way," Cunningham told ESPN about his ambitions. "I want people to understand that and that's what I'm working to show people every time I play."

  Cunningham is averaging career highs across the board with 25.7 points, 9.2 assists and a 46.2% field goal percentage. Cunningham's leadership qualities have proven equally valuable, especially during the team's darkest moments. After the Pistons set an NBA record with 27 consecutive losses in a single season last December, he gathered his teammates and urged them: "Don't jump off the boat. Right now is the easiest time to stand off and be on your own, but we need to continue to lean on each other and continue to push each other."

  "Very rarely do you find a guy who can grow and develop and not leave people behind," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "Cade has the uncanny ability to not only take care of himself and do what's best for his development and growth, but he makes sure that his teammates are always right alongside."

  Zion Williamson believes Cunningham isn't receiving proper recognition: "I don't think people are giving him his full respect. In my opinion, he's an All-NBA player this year." Former Pistons great Grant Hill, to whom Cunningham is often compared, appreciates the similarities: "He thinks the game at a very high level, and he's got just this incredible feel and incredible basketball instincts."

  Pistons owner Tom Gores expressed unwavering confidence in his franchise player. "What I saw in Cade is not something you just see on the court. He embraced the adversity; he didn't put it on anybody else," Gores told ESPN. "Part of the reason I didn't blink is he didn't blink."

  The Pistons signed Cunningham to a five-year max extension this past offseason and he is expected to qualify for the Rose rule provision to elevate it from $224 million to $269 million.