The Detroit Pistons sent center forward Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night during the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
In return, Detroit received three future second-round draft picks, a deal that closes out Stewart’s seven-year run with the franchise, the longest tenure of any player on the current roster.
According to reporting from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the move comes shortly after Stewart finished seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting this past season.
He averaged 10 points on roughly 55 percent shooting, along with 5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, mostly coming off the bench for a Pistons team that won 60 games and finished atop the Eastern Conference before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs.
Stewart entered the league as the 16th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, originally selected by the Portland Trail Blazers before his rights were traded through Houston and ultimately landed in Detroit.
Over the years, he became known as a physical, high-energy presence in the frontcourt, and his exit marks the end of an era for a Pistons core that has been rebuilding around star guard Cade Cunningham.
What This Means for Detroit
Trading Stewart clears a significant chunk of money off Detroit’s books.
He still had two years and about 30 million dollars remaining on his contract, including a team option for the second season, so moving him frees up close to 15 million dollars in cap space for the 2026 27 season.
That gives the Pistons front office more room to maneuver this offseason as they look to add shooting and playmaking pieces around Cunningham heading into next year.
The return of three future second-round picks may not seem flashy on its own, but it gives Detroit additional draft capital to work with, whether that means selecting young talent down the line or packaging the picks into a future trade for a more established player.
A Fresh Start in Memphis
For the Grizzlies, this trade addresses a clear need. Memphis already has a young and physical frontcourt taking shape after using a high draft pick on Cameron Boozer, and the roster also includes Karim Lopez and Zach Edey.
Stewart, who is still just 25 years old, gives the team a rugged defensive presence and another big body to rotate through their frontcourt during a season that figures to be about development and building toward contention.
Edey in particular stands to benefit. He played only 11 games last season before a stress-related ankle injury required season-ending surgery, and the Grizzlies struggled defensively whenever he was off the floor.
Adding Stewart gives Memphis a legitimate backup option at center, something the roster lacked, and could help keep Edey fresher as he continues working back from injury.
For now, both sides appear to view the trade as a logical fit, with Detroit prioritizing flexibility and Memphis prioritizing size and toughness up front.
