Dennis Schroder is Who the Pistons Needed
The Pistons didn't go star hunting at the trade deadline. Instead, they brought in Dennnis Schroder and haven't lost a game since.
In the weeks and months leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline, speculation was rampant that the Detroit Pistons would make a big swing and acquire an all-star caliber player to pair alongside Cade Cunningham.
After Jaden Ivey suffered a scary broken left fibula injury on the first day of 2025 — putting the remainder of his season in jeopardy — those whispers only magnified. Whether it was Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine, or even Jimmy Butler, the Pistons were often mentioned as a team with some reported interest.
But as the deadline officially passed on February 6th, none of Ingram, LaVine, Butler, or any other all-star level player had been dealt to Detroit. Instead, the Pistons landed Dennis Schroder (and Lindy Waters) for pennies on the dollar — a rather small move for a deadline that saw the likes of Luka Dončić, Anthony Davis, Ingram, LaVine, and Butler all be traded.
Yet since acquiring Schroder, and not a star player, the Pistons are yet to lose a game. Detroit has won seven in a row, with six of the wins coming after adding Schroder.
The 12-year NBA veteran has been exactly what the Pistons needed.
He has brought a stabilizing presence to Detroit’s second unit that was sorely lacking. Before getting Schroder, the bench was often out of sorts. They were unable to get into sets and lacked the playmaking skills needed to survive stretches with Cade Cunningham off the court.
Detroit’s bench lineup of Marcus Sasser, Malik Beasley, Ron Holland, Simone Fontecchio, and Isaiah Stewart had a net rating of minus-15.7.
Swapping in Schroder for Sasser in that same lineup flips the net rating to a plus-1.6. In this case, the numbers do not lie. Schroder has been a massive upgrade to Detroit’s roster.
In 18.2 minutes per game, he has averaged 8.2 points and 4.2 assists per game. His shooting efficiency has been poor, but even with a low field goal and 3-point percentage, his impact has been strong.
Schroder has also quickly been trusted to play in closing lineups alongside Cade Cunningham. He made several big plays late in the Pistons’ wins over the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers, including a go-ahead and-1 versus the Hawks with 33 seconds remaining in the game.
After Detroit’s close win over Atlanta, J.B. Bickertstaff encapsulated why the Pistons needed Schroder:
"You need a guy who has courage, and this is what we envisioned when we made the trade for him, is him being in lineups where he can help us finish. He rose up to the occasion tonight."
Bickertsaff has shown trust in him right away, and that trust has paid dividends.
His ability to play alongside Cunningham is vital. Schroder’s presence takes some pressure off Cunningham, providing him with another capable ball-handler who can initiate offense and allow opportunities for Cunningham to play off the ball.
Without Schroder, it is fair to believe Detroit may have lost their last two games. He may not be the star player some had hoped the Pistons would acquire at the deadline, but his influence has been loud.
As the Pistons continue to surge towards a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Schroder gives them something the team desperately needs for continued success — a second true point guard. His skill and experience will pay dividends for the Pistons in the playoffs.
The Pistons are still hoping that Jaden Ivey can return at some point this season. With the addition of Schroder, and the hopeful return of Ivey, Detroit is setting the table for a playoff run after winning just 14 games a season ago.
There is still more work to do, but for now, no one has been able to keep the Pistons from winning.