Pistons Secure Huerter
Detroit Pistons Finalize Three-Year, $27 Million Contract to Bring Back Sharpshooter Kevin Huerter
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Key Points
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The Pistons added Isaiah Joe from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade to bolster their perimeter shooting, pairing him with Kevin Huerter to deepen the guard/wing rotation.
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Huerter's Pistons tenure continued with a Feb. 3, 2025 three‑team trade that sent him to Detroit, a deal that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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In his 25 games with Detroit last season, Huerter shot 44.3% from the field and 29.4% from three, averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in about 20.5 minutes per game.
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Huerter has bounced around the league: selected 19th by the Hawks in 2018, later with the Kings in 2022, then traded to the Bulls in 2024–25 before landing with the Pistons.
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The contract was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and the deal was arranged with Priority Sports agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman.
The Detroit Pistons are bringing back sharpshooter Kevin Huerter on a three-year, $27 million deal, according to ESPN. The 27-year-old guard averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 25 games after joining Detroit at the trade deadline last February.
The deal works out to $9 million per year. Huerter's agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman of Priority Sports brokered the agreement, Detroit News reported. The signing locks in one of Detroit's key perimeter pieces heading into next season.
Huerter's Rocky Road to Detroit's Roster
Huerter has bounced around the league since the Atlanta Hawks drafted him 19th overall in 2018. He built his reputation as "Red Velvet" in Sacramento, shooting lights-out for the Kings during their 2022-23 playoff run. A trade sent him to the Chicago Bulls in 2024-25, and then Detroit acquired him in a three-team deal on February 3, 2026, that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves, Yahoo Sports reported.
His stint in Detroit was uneven. He shot just 29.4% from three-point range — well below his career mark of 36.8% — in 20.5 minutes per game. A left adductor strain then cost him most of Detroit's 2026 playoff run. The Pistons are betting his struggles were a temporary dip, not a permanent drop-off.
Detroit Builds a Shooter-Heavy Perimeter Around Cunningham
The Huerter re-signing is part of a bigger plan. Detroit also acquired Isaiah Joe from the Oklahoma City Thunder for two future second-round picks last week. Joe is a career 42.3% shooter from deep. Together, Huerter and Joe give the Pistons two proven perimeter threats to surround franchise star Cade Cunningham, according to Detroit News.
Detroit's front office has made a clear choice: spacing over athleticism. They traded high-upside guard Jaden Ivey — the No. 5 pick in 2022 — to get Huerter at the deadline. Now the roster features Huerter, Joe, Daniss Jenkins, Caris LeVert, and Marcus Sasser all competing for guard and wing minutes.
Minutes Crunch Looms for Detroit's Crowded Backcourt
Adding Huerter and Joe creates a real minutes problem. Five guards and wings will compete for playing time: Huerter, Joe, LeVert, Jenkins, and Sasser. Detroit recently picked up Jenkins's $4 million option, signaling he's in the mix too, AOL reported. Someone will have to give up minutes — or be moved in a trade.
Some analysts see Caris LeVert or a future free agent as a potential trade piece. Huerter's $9 million salary is a useful asset for matching contracts in a deal. The Pistons finished as a top-four seed in the East in 2025-26. They are no longer rebuilding — they are pushing for a deeper playoff run.
Can Huerter Bounce Back to His 38-40% Shooting Peak?
The key question is whether Huerter can return to form. His career three-point percentage sits at 36.8%. In Sacramento, he hit 40% from deep in his best seasons. The slide to 29.4% in Detroit followed a midseason trade and a nagging injury. Detroit's medical staff cleared him for a full summer training program, WXYZ reported.
The Pistons are betting a healthy offseason and a full training camp with Cunningham will restore Huerter's shooting touch. If he rebounds to even 36-37% from three, the deal looks like a bargain at $9 million a year. If the decline continues, Detroit has locked in a shooter who can no longer shoot — a risk the front office is clearly willing to take.
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