Early-Season Decisions Loom for Pistons, Nuggets and Magic
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Several franchises are reassessing plans as the NBA calendar moves toward the holiday stretch. Detroit is weighing its surprising start, Denver is celebrating a breakout performance from a young wing, and Orlando is still searching for offensive balance.
Detroit takes patient approach after 13-2 launch
The Pistons, owners of the Eastern Conference’s best record through Wednesday, will hold off on major roster moves until after a late-December West Coast trip, team sources told ESPN. Management wants additional evidence before altering a group that sits 13-2.
For the first time since November 2020, Detroit controls every first-round pick through 2032. The club also owns 14 second-round selections and can trade up to four future firsts or arrange swaps, giving the front office multiple pathways if it decides to buy.
The financial books offer flexibility as well. Detroit is $26.2 million below the first luxury-tax apron, allowing the organization to absorb sizable salaries. League contracts viewed as movable include Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson, Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert.
Internally, the spotlight is on guard Jaden Ivey, who is returning from a fractured left fibula. Executives want to see if he can mirror the jump center Jalen Duren made last season, a development that would further clarify how to build around Cade Cunningham.
Watson’s career night boosts short-handed Nuggets
Peyton Watson, who did not secure a rookie-scale extension this fall, erupted for 32 points on 13-of-19 shooting Wednesday with Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon sidelined. The second-year wing buried five of nine attempts from deep, punishing a Pelicans defense that chose to sag.
Watson’s defensive presence has already kept him in assistant coach David Adelman’s rotation; he leads Denver in blocks and ranks third in steals. Wednesday’s scoring outburst offered the kind of two-way impact the Nuggets hope to see more frequently.
Magic still leaning heavily on Suggs
Orlando revamped its backcourt by trading for Desmond Bane and signing Tyus Jones, yet Jalen Suggs remains the primary driver. According to ESPN, the Magic outscore opponents by 17.2 points per 100 possessions when Suggs plays and are minus-6.2 when he rests.
Jones has struggled early, hitting just 19 percent from three and posting a career-low assist rate. Those issues have pushed rookie Anthony Black into larger minutes, although the team still lacks the playmaking it sought.
After extensions and offseason additions, Orlando has one tradable first-round pick left through 2032 and eight second-rounders available if it pursues upgrades.
Source: Hoops Wire
