LeBron, Kawhi Named Potential Pistons Targets by Windhorst After Isaiah Stewart Trade

The Detroit Pistons had a tremendous year of growth in 2025-26. Now, they could be looking to make a big upgrade this offseason.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst suggested that the Pistons could try to make a trade for Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, adding that Detroit has the cap space to target LeBron James if it wants to.

"What if they go big-game hunting? What if they check on the availability of Kawhi Leonard, who we're not quite sure if he's going to extend his contract in LA or be traded? What if they look at some of the bigger names who could be out there?" Windhorst said during ESPN's draft show. "Heck, they've cleared enough open space, they could call LeBron James if they wanted to."

Detroit made a cost-cutting move during the second round of the NBA draft on Wednesday, trading forward Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies in return for three future second-round picks.

Some of the created salary cap space presumably will be used to re-sign restricted free agent Jalen Duren, who is eligible for a five-year max deal worth up to 30 percent of Detroit's cap after making an All-NBA team last season.

From there, the Pistons should still have the means to make a major signing or a trade.

Leonard is coming off a tremendous year in which he put up 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 65 contests. Whether the Clippers are open to trading the former Finals MVP is still unclear.

The Clippers don't have a championship-caliber roster at the moment, but they have a solid core centered around Leonard and Darius Garland. They could try to build around that core, or move on from Leonard and head towards a rebuild.

If Los Angeles chooses the latter, the Pistons should be aggressive in their pursuit of Leonard.

Getting James to Detroit is likely much more of a stretch than trading for Leonard.

James is a free agent this offseason, but all signs have pointed to him wanting to stay near his home in Los Angeles, whether that be staying with the Lakers or joining another California team, like the Clippers or Warriors.

If James moves back to the Midwest, it would almost certainly be to reunite with the Cleveland Cavaliers before calling it a career. Still, it doesn't hurt for the Pistons to make the call to James' representatives.