There are conflicting reports on Isaiah Stewart’s future with the Detroit Pistons. Some, such as Pistons Beat Writer for The Athletic James Edwards III believe Stewart will be a staple in the Motor City so long as general manager Troy Weaver is at the helm. Other reports indicate that Stewart is considered available by teams around the league.
The team could make a critical decision on Stewart’s future this summer. The 2020 NBA Draft class is eligible to receive contract extensions this offseason. Stewart was one of three players selected by the Pistons in the 2020 draft, Weaver’s first as GM. Saddiq Bey was lost in a multi-team trade that netted the Pistons James Wiseman. Killian Hayes has struggled to find his footing in Detroit, and the selection of Marus Sasser in the 2023 draft could be an indicator of his ultimate exit.
Of the trio of first-rounders from 2020, Stewart has thrived the most in Detroit. He made the All-Rookie team alongside Bey, and his role has continued to grow throughout his three seasons with the Pistons. In 2022-23, Stewart averaged a career-high 11.3 points. He switched positions to power forward and attempted 4.1 three-point attempts per game. While he only hit 32.7 percent of those shots, he showed the makings of a legit floor spacer.
If nothing else, Stewart has established himself as a critical role player for the Pistons. He has consistently been one of the team’s best defenders, and his offensive game continues to blossom with every season. It is a good sign that a championship contender like the Boston Celtics reportedly coveted Stewart in a potential trade. Of the Pistons eligible for a rookie contract extension, Stewart is the most deserving. Hayes and Wiseman have yet to establish their roles and value in the NBA.
What could Isaiah Stewart’s extension with the Detroit Pistons look like?
Stewart is not going to be an expensive player, but he is going to warrant a high-end role-player salary. It is hard to envision the big man accepting anything less than what Weaver gave Marvin Bagley III this past offseason: three years, $37 million. Another big man who just recently signed a contract extension could signal the range that Stewart is likely to receive an offer.
Naz Reid re-signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a three-year contract worth roughly $42 million. That value could match Stewart’s. There is little reason to believe Stewart receives significantly more. Weaver has proven himself as a GM who rarely locks himself into unmovable contracts. No matter how much he reportedly values Stewart, he is not going to throw away financial flexibility to retain him.
It would be a mistake for the Detroit Pistons to not extend Isaiah Stewart
If Stewart is not re-signed this offseason, the Pistons will run the risk of another NBA team throwing a poison-pill contract offer to steal him away. If this team had incredible depth, that potential reality would not be so bad, but Detroit does not have that luxury.
The team needs good players. Stewart has proven himself to be a contributing rotational NBA player. Whether that is as a starter or coming off the bench will be determined by his continued development. As this team looks to turn a corner back toward relevancy, retaining productive role players like Stewart will be critical.
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For more from the author, Thomas Chavez, check him out on Twitter here: @tlchavez43
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