It wouldn’t be a proper NBA offseason without a convoluted, six-team trade that sends multiple players to new teams.
The Detroit Pistons continue to make roster moves to bolster their team after concluding the 2025-26 season with a seven-game series loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Their latest move has them parting ways with 10-year veteran guard Caris LeVert.
The Pistons traded LeVert and two second-round picks to the Milwaukee Bucks for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris, according to ESPN.
The deal allows Detroit to save money and creates a trade exception, while the Bucks will acquire LeVert and pick up additional assets.
1 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2026: New York Knicks (beat San Antonio Spurs in five games)
(Dustin Safranek, Imagn Images)
1 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2026: New York Knicks (beat San Antonio Spurs in five games)
(Dustin Safranek, Imagn Images)
2 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2025: Oklahoma City Thunder (beat Indiana Pacers in seven games)
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)
3 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2024: Boston Celtics (beat Dallas Mavericks in five games)
(Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports)
4 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2023: Denver Nuggets (beat Miami Heat in five games)
(Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)
5 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2022: Golden State Warriors (beat Boston Celtics in six games)
(Adam Glanzman, Getty Images)
6 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2021: Milwaukee Bucks (beat Phoenix Suns in six games)
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
7 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2020: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Miami Heat in six games)
(Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)
8 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2019: Toronto Raptors (beat Golden State Warriors in six games)
(Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports)
9 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2018: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in four games)
(David Richard, USA TODAY Sports)
10 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2017: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in five games)
(Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports)
11 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers (beat Golden State Warriors in seven games)
(Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports)
12 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2015: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in six games)
(Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)
13 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2014: San Antonio Spurs (beat Miami Heat in five games)
(Brendan Maloney, USA TODAY Sports)
14 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2013: Miami Heat (beat San Antonio Spurs in seven games)
(Brendan Maloney=, USA TODAY Sports)
15 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2012: Miami Heat (beat Oklahoma City Thunder in five games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
16 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2008: Boston Celtics (beat Los Angeles Lakers in six games)
(GABRIEL BOUYS, AFP via Getty Images)
17 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2005: San Antonio Spurs (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games)
(ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP via Getty Images)
18 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2004: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games)
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
19 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2003: San Antonio Spurs (beat New Jersey Nets in six games)
(JAMES NIELSEN, AFP via Getty Images)
20 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2002: Los Angeles Lakers (beat New Jersey Nets in four games)
(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)
21 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2001: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Philadelphia 76ers in five games)
(STAN HONDA, AFP via Getty Images)
22 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1999: San Antonio Spurs (beat New York Knicks five games)
(TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images)
23 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1997: Chicago Bulls (beat Utah Jazz in six games)
(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)
24 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1996: Chicago Bulls (beat Seattle SuperSonics in six games)
(PAUL BUCK, AFP via Getty Images)
25 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1995: Houston Rockets (beat Orlando Magic in four games)
(PAUL BUCK, AFP via Getty Images)
26 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1994: Houston Rockets (beat New York Knicks in seven games)
(BOB STRONG, AFP via Getty Images)
27 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1993: Chicago Bulls (beat Phoenix Suns in six games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
28 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1992: Chicago Bulls (beat Portland Trail Blazers in six games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
29 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1991: Chicago Bulls beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
(Ken Levine, Getty Images)
30 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1990: Detroit Pistons (beat Portland Trail Blazers in five games)
(William Archie, Detroit Free Press)
31 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1989: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in four games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
32 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1988: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
33 / 33
NBA champions through the years
1987: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Boston Celtics in six games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
Clutch Points insider Brett Siegel reported that the Pistons freed up roughly $7 million in extra funds needed to complete their recent transactions. The simple cost-cutting maneuver by the Pistons is expected to go toward signing restricted free agent Jalen Duren.
Detroit currently has $39 million in pending outgoing salaries between LeVert and Isaiah Stewart, who was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for three future second-round draft picks.
The Pistons have been making moves to clear cap space since the summer period began. The Stewart trade allowed Detroit to clear $30 million off its cap for free agency. In exchange, Memphis acquired a defensive-minded frontcourt piece. The big man plays physical, intimidating defense.
As for the Bucks’ assets, they now own seven first-round picks and four second-round picks, as they continue to rebuild in the post-Giannis Antetokounmpo era.
Six-team trade to connect everything
The Bucks-Pistons trade was important for other teams and players involved. Ultimately, it connected one trade to another to make several transactions possible.
According to ESPN, free agent Khris Middleton agreed to a three-year, $17.6 million deal with the Washington Wizards. The deal is a sign-and-trade involving the Dallas Mavericks, who had acquired Middleton from the Wizards ahead of the trade deadline in February.
That’s all part of a larger six-team deal.
The teams included are: the Mavericks, Wizards, Pistons, Bucks, Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Wizards are sending D’Angelo Russell, a future second-round pick and a future second-round pick swap to the Grizzlies, according to ESPN.
Nearly a week ago, the Pistons made a move to sign John Collins as a free agent on a three-year, $51 million contract. The six-team trade helps to solidify the move.
A look at the six-team trade
Here’s where players went as a result of the six-team swap:
Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
Receive: John Collins, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince
Lose: Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, two second-round picks
