Pistons land sharpshooter Isaiah Joe in trade with Thunder

Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News on Jun 26, 2026

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DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons entered the offseason aware of their need for an additional ball-handler and improved 3-point shooting to revamp their roster this summer.

On Friday morning, the Pistons made a move by acquiring one of the most prominent shooters available on the trade market. They added Isaiah Joe from the Oklahoma City Thunder for two future second-round picks, a source close to the deal confirmed to The Detroit News.

The acquisition of Joe aligns with the Pistons' goal of how they would like to upgrading their roster this summer. They were able to address a significant need while keeping the cost manageable. The 6-foot-4 guard will likely be acquired by the Pistons due to the $15 million trade exception the franchise obtained in the deal that sent Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

Joe has two years left on his $22.6 million contract with a team option for the 2027-28 season. His contract will not affect the Pistons' upcoming decisions, as the team is exploring all possibilities to enhance its roster while keeping its optionality open.

Despite the move for Joe, the Pistons still remain a realistic destination for a more prominent name, such as Tyler Herro or Norman Powell. Both players are expected to have new teams for the upcoming season as a result of the trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat on Monday.

"We know that we need to be more equipped to compete in the postseason, and that is what we are looking at doing," president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said in May. "Overall, internal growth is the best way to grow by taking a step. But we will continue to look to see if we can add pieces that will help us to continue improving and come back as a better iteration of the Detroit Pistons."

Joe, 26, arrives in Detroit as a six-year veteran who has made significant progress since entering the league as a second-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020. He had a limited role with the 76ers, where he played an average of 10.3 minutes through 96 games before landing with the Thunder in October 2022.

Joe played a crucial role in Oklahoma City's rebuilding efforts, helping establish the Thunder as the league's best team over the previous three years. This period also saw Oklahoma City winning its only NBA title in 2025. This past season, Joe had a standout performance, averaging a career-best 11.1 points on 42.3% shooting from 3-point range, which ranked 10th-best in the league. Joe also shot 43.1% on catch-and-shoot attempts from behind the arc.

With the Pistons, Joe likely will continue in his role as a valuable sharpshooter off the bench, which will have a major impact on Detroit's subpar 3-point shooting. In fact, Joe has the potential to help the Pistons replace Malik Beasley's production a year after his unceremonious exit.

Despite winning 60 games, Detroit's shooting has consistently been its weakest attribute. The Pistons struggled with their 3-point shooting this season, finishing 17th in the league at 35.6%. Duncan Robinson was their lone reliable shooter throughout the season, finishing with the 12th-most 3-point field goals made in the league, 220, on 41.0% shooting.

The team's subpar shooting performance did not improve in the postseason, as they managed only 35.9% from the field, contributing to their failure to advance to the Conference Finals. Every move the Pistons make this offseason will focus on building around their three core players of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson.