The Memphis Grizzlies acquired veteran center Isaiah Stewart from the Detroit Pistons late Wednesday night during the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Memphis absorbs his $15 million salary for the upcoming season to finalize the deal. Detroit receives three future second-round picks in return.
Detroit President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon used the move to reverse a transaction from earlier in the week. The Pistons re-acquired the exact 2029 Memphis, 2031 Dallas, and 2032 Detroit picks they sent to the Grizzlies on Tuesday to move up and draft Ebuka Okorie at No. 17.
Stewart leaves as the longest-tenured player on the Detroit roster. He entered the league as the 16th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Grizzlies acquired Isaiah Stewart to add a physical defensive presence to a frontcourt rotation that already includes Zach Edey, Santi Aldama, and 2026 No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer.
Detroit moves the contract to clear financial flexibility ahead of the impending free agency of key contributors Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and Kevin Huerter, according to TSN. Stewart holds a $15 million team option for the 2027-28 season.
ESPN analyst Ben Golliver factored the trade into his complete 2026 NBA Draft grades. Memphis received a strong evaluation for securing immediate veteran help alongside their lottery selection. Other teams faced mixed reviews following the two-day event in Brooklyn.
The San Antonio Spurs earned high praise for selecting center Jayden Quaintance at No. 20. Golliver noted the pick gives San Antonio much-needed frontcourt physicality to pair with Victor Wembanyama following their recent playoff run.
The Milwaukee Bucks received a cautious grade for their post-Giannis rebuild strategy. Milwaukee drafted Tennessee forward Nate Ament at No. 13 and guard Brayden Burries. Golliver urged fans to remain patient while Ament fills out physically for the professional level.