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Everybody in the NBA Eastern Conference is loading up. Where are the Detroit Pistons?

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Their championship window is just starting, but several teams now look more talented or on the same level as of Saturday, July 4.

The reigning No. 1 seed in the East has been linked in trade talks to New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III, but no deal is imminent. The Pistons will acquire Isaiah Joe and John Collins in separate deals, but lost Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris, and still lack a high-level playmaker beside Cade Cunningham.

Now, the Pistons – who bowed out in Game 7 of the second round – will face far tougher competition in 2026-27, with multiple teams suddenly looking even more formidable than expected.

Three blockbuster trades involving All-NBA players has reframed the conversation: Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors (from the Western Conference's Los Angeles Clippers) and Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Add in the return of Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers after an Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Jayson Tatum ready to go for the Boston Celtics after missing the majority of last season following his Achilles tear in the 2025 playoffs and, to a lesser extent, the expected return to health of the Orlando Magic, and this conference is a juggernaut. Don't forget the new-look Washington Wizards with Trae Young, Anthony Davis and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa.

Oh, and some guy named LeBron James is in free agency with Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia among the top suitors.

Here's a look at the reshaped East so far, with most signings and trades yet to be officially finalized until Monday, July 6, at 12:01 p.m. ET.

The following ranking with odds to win the East in 2026-27 is based on MGM Sportsbook odds as of July 3:

Rookie first-round picks listed with draft pick slot.

1. New York Knicks, +325 (3.25-1)

• Adding: Andre Drummond
• Losing: Mitchell Robinson, Ariel Hukporti

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Jalen Brunson
• SG: Mikal Bridges
• SF: Josh Hart
• PF: OG Anunoby
• C: Karl-Anthony Towns
• Key reserves: Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado, Andre Drummond

2. Boston Celtics, +450

• Adding: Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley Jr., Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 27)
• Losing: Jaylen Brown

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Payton Pritchard
• SG: Derrick White
• SF: Paul George
• PF: Jayson Tatum
• C: Neemias Queta
• Key reserves: Mitchell Robinson, Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, Hugo González

3. Philadelphia 76ers, +700

• Adding: Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Ariel Hukporti, Labaron Philon Jr. (No. 22)
• Losing: Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Tyrese Maxey
• SG: VJ Edgecombe
• SF: Jaylen Brown
• PF: Dean Wade
• C: Joel Embiid
• Key reserves: Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr., Dominick Barlow, Justin Edwards

4. Detroit Pistons, +750

• Adding: John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Ebuka Okorie (No. 17)
• Losing: Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart

[ Pistons linked to Trey Murphy III in trade rumors: How would he fit? ]

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Cade Cunningham
• SG: Duncan Robinson
• SF: Ausar Thompson
• PF: John Collins
• C: Jalen Duren (assuming a re-signing)
• Key reserves: Daniss Jenkins, Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Ron Holland, Kevin Huerter, Javonte Green, Caris LeVert

5. Toronto Raptors, +800

• Adding: Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves (No. 19)
• Losing: Brandon Ingram, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Gradey Dick

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Immanuel Quickley
• SG: RJ Barrett
• SF: Kawhi Leonard
• PF: Scottie Barnes
• C: Jakob Poeltl
• Key reserves: Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves

6. Miami Heat, +850

• Adding: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr.
• Losing: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Norman Powell, Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Davion Mitchell
• SG: Pelle Larsson
• SF: Andrew Wiggins
• PF: Bam Adebayo
• C: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Key reserves: Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis, Nikola Jović, Simone Fontecchio

7. Cleveland Cavaliers, +900

• Adding: None
• Losing: Dean Wade, Keon Ellis

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: James Harden
• SG: Donovan Mitchell
• SF: Max Strus
• PF: Evan Mobley
• C: Jarrett Allen
• Key reserves: Sam Merrill, Dennis Schröder, Jaylon Tyson, Thomas Bryant

8. Indiana Pacers, 16-1

• Adding: Kelly Oubre Jr.
• Losing: None

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Tyrese Haliburton
• SG: Andrew Nembhard
• SF: Aaron Nesmith
• PF: Pascal Siakam
• C: Ivica Zubac
• Key reserves: T.J. McConnell, Kelly Oubre Jr., Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker

9. Atlanta Hawks, 25-1

• Adding: Kingston Flemings (No. 8), Zuby Ejiofor (No. 23)
• Losing: None

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: CJ McCollum
• SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
• SF: Dyson Daniels
• PF: Jalen Johnson
• C: Onyeka Okongwu
• Key reserves: Kingston Flemings, Zaccharie Risacher, Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye

10. Orlando Magic, 30-1

• Adding: Nikola Vučević
• Losing: Moritz Wagner

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Jalen Suggs
• SG: Desmond Bane
• SF: Franz Wagner
• PF: Paolo Banchero
• C: Wendell Carter Jr.
• Key reserves: Anthony Black, Jamal Cain, Tristan da Silva, Goga Bitadze

11. Charlotte Hornets, 30-1

• Adding: Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith, Hannes Steinbach (No. 14), Christian Anderson Jr. (No. 18)
• Losing: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Coby White
• SG: Kon Knueppel
• SF: Brandon Miller
• PF: Royce O'Neale
• C: Moussa Diabaté
• Key reserves: Grayson Allen, Sion James, Grant Williams, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hannes Steinbach, Christian Anderson Jr.

12. Washington Wizards, 60-1

• Adding: Deandre Ayton, AJ Dybantsa (No. 1)
• Losing: None

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Trae Young
• SG: Kyshawn George
• SF: AJ Dybantsa
• PF: Anthony Davis
• C: Alex Sarr
• Key reserves: Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Deandre Ayton, Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley

13. Milwaukee Bucks, 400-1

• Adding: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, Brayden Burries (No. 10), Nate Ament (No. 13)
• Losing:Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Ryan Rollins
• SG: Tyler Herro
• SF: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
• PF: Kyle Kuzma
• C: Myles Turner
• Key reserves: Brayden Burries, A.J. Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Kel'el Ware, Nate Ament

14. Chicago Bulls, 400-1

• Adding: Norman Powell, Caleb Wilson (No. 4), Dailyn Swain (No. 15)
• Losing: Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Josh Giddey
• SG: Norman Powell
• SF: Matas Buzelis
• PF: Caleb Wilson
• C: Nic Claxton
• Key reserves: Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, Tre Jones, Jalen Smith, Dailyn Swain

15. Brooklyn Nets, 400-1

• Adding: Julius Randle, Keon Ellis, Moritz Wagner, Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6), Joshua Jefferson (No. 28)
• Losing: Nic Claxton

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Mikel Brown Jr.
• SG: Egor Demin
• SF: Michael Porter Jr.
• PF: Julius Randle
• C: Day'Ron Sharpe
• Key reserves: Keon Ellis, Noah Clowney, Terance Mann, Ben Saraf, Nolan Traoré

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NBA Eastern Conference rankings stacked with talent, Pistons in trouble

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