Isaiah Stewart is reportedly drawing interest around the NBA, with the Detroit Pistons center generating the most trade inquiries on the team other than former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham.
“When Isaiah Stewart came to terms on a four-year, $64 million extension with the Detroit Pistons, it wasn’t exactly surprising to league personnel in attendance,” wrote Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports. “Stewart has shown some real promise as a shooter for a true plus-athlete within a tundra of athleticism. The Pistons, league sources told Yahoo Sports, have received more trade inquiries on Stewart than any member of Detroit’s roster outside of Cade Cunningham dating back to the trade deadline. Stewart also marks the latest first-round big man Pistons general manager Troy Weaver awarded with a lucrative contract. Detroit gave Marvin Bagley a three-year, $37.5 million deal last summer, which Bagley would have struggled, by all accounts, to find a similar number elsewhere. Not to mention the Pistons then acquired former No. 2 pick James Wiseman at the trade deadline.”
Stewart is about to enter his fourth NBA season since he was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was originally selected by the Portland Trail Blazers and then was traded to the Houston Rockets before landing with the Pistons.
The 22-year-old averaged 11.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the 2022-23 campaign, when his season was limited by a hip injury and then cut short by a shoulder injury. He made 67 3-pointers, which almost doubled his total from his first two seasons combined.
His contract extension became official this week and could be used by other agents as a benchmark for similar clients, Fischer wrote.
After acquiring Wiseman from the Golden State Warriors prior to the NBA trade deadline last season, Detroit this offseason acquired Monte Morris in a trade with the Washington Wizards and Joe Harris in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pistons also hired head coach Monty Williams, who was fired by the Phoenix Suns following the 2022-23 season.
Detroit was an NBA-worst 17-65 last season and failed to win the NBA Draft Lottery and the chance to select Victor Wembanyama. The Pistons have made the playoffs just twice since 2009 and have not won a series since 2008.
Cunningham, who was the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, played just 12 games last season before a shin injury ended his season in November and led to surgery in December. The 21-year-old has averaged 17.8 points per game in the 76 NBA contests he has been able to play, and he is expected to be ready for training camp.
Detroit has won 80 games total over the past four seasons, so it is likely exploring every possible way to improve the team. Whether that includes parting with a young talent like Stewart, who was just deemed worthy of a big contract extension, will be interesting to watch.
