The Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons both took second-round exits in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and each team could be in the market for some help this offseason.
Both squads also have some question marks surrounding key players. Two of those players are Austin Reaves and Jalen Duren.
Reaves is likely to opt out of the final year of his deal with the Lakers this offseason and become an unrestricted free agent. Duren, meanwhile, is set to hit restricted free agency.
During a recent podcast, Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce was asked about the idea of Reaves and Duren swapping teams through a sign-and-trade. He was excited by the idea.
“I like that,” Pierce said of the idea. “I love that for both teams. You get a young big you could put with Luka Doncic in Duren, then you (the Pistons) get the scoring punch that you need on the perimeter.”
Pierce did note that a move like that would deplete Detroit’s depth at big man, which the team would have to address.
For the Lakers, moving on from Reaves would be an incredible loss, as he’s gone from an undrafted signing to a borderline All-Star in the NBA. This season, he averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game for the Lakers.
Adding Duren, however, would certainly be something. He is only 22 years old and earned an All-Star nod this season with the Pistons. He averaged a double-double for a third consecutive season and also finished 11th in the Defensive Player of the Year race.
In the regular season, he averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. But it is worth noting that in the playoffs, his production regressed to the tune of 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, with his efficiency also taking a hit.
He’d be a fascinating piece to pair with Doncic as the Lakers look to build a long-term contender moving forward.
Detroit, meanwhile, is looking to do the same. Adding Reaves would give the team an intriguing backcourt that would also feature star guard Cade Cunningham.
Although the Pistons won 60 games in the 2025-26 regular season and came one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, they were pushed to seven games in the first round against the No. 8 seed and arguably should have taken care of business in the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their playoff run certainly had its flaws.
As such, they should keep as many options on the table as possible this offseason.
