It seemed like the Detroit Pistons possessed nearly every trait required to compete for a championship – a grit and grind mentality, physical enforcers, defensive toughness, and an up-tempo style of play.
But after getting eliminated in the second round despite finishing as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season, it became painfully clear that they cannot continue relying so heavily on their young superstar Cade Cunningham. Thus, the Pistons desperately need another reliable offensive contributor who can ease the burden on Cade.
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And for Chandler Parsons, the ideal player is none other than Austin Reaves, who posted a career-best 23.3 points per game during the 2025-26 season and is still only 27 years old.
“I want a ball-handling, off-guard type of guy. I’d rather like an Austin Reaves type,” Parsons said on the ‘Run It Back’ show. “Have him run the offense, let play Cade off the ball a little bit.”
AR can be an ideal fit
Not only is Reaves someone already accustomed to sharing ball-handling responsibilities alongside stars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James in Los Angeles, but he has also established himself as one of the league’s most confident clutch scorers.
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Beyond shooting 36.8 percent from three-point range and nearly 50.0 percent from the field, AR can also create scoring opportunities for teammates whenever Cunningham finds himself overwhelmed by defensive pressure.
Then, there’s the defensive fit. Considering the Pistons finished as the second-best defensive team in the league, they would be well-equipped to cover up some of Reaves’ defensive shortcomings. In return, Reaves’ offensive versatility and ability to draw favorable calls to the free-throw line can elevate the Pistons into a top-six or top-seven offensive unit.
Additionally, considering the Pistons’ offensive woes were repeatedly put on display during the 2026 playoffs, this is indeed a concerning sign.
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For instance, in their first-round series, they failed to reach the 100-point mark three times. To make matters worse, their elimination came at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who restricted them to under 95 points in Game 7. So, those struggles clearly indicate how they need another dependable scorer.
Chandler says Reaves over KD
Of course, if the goal is simply to add offensive firepower, then two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant could be an even bigger addition.
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KD logged 26.0 points per game in the 2025-26 season, at the age of 37, showing that he’s just as unstoppable as he was in his prime.
Yet, Parsons believes that Reaves is a better fit because of his age, adaptability and flexibility. As dynamic as KD is, at this stage of his career, he has firmly established his playing style, whereas AR can still evolve his game around the Pistons’ young core.
“I’d rather have someone younger to grow with this core that they have,” Parsons added. “But yeah, if you get a chance to go get Kevin Durant, of course, do that.”
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Whether it’s Reaves, Durant, or any other quality offensive star, one thing is certain: if the Pistons truly want to attain their championship ceiling, they must add another major scoring weapon alongside Cunningham in the upcoming offseason.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.