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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves gestures toward the bench as attention around his future has intensified.

The top-seeded Detroit Pistons just might lose in round one to the Orlando Magic. If that happens, it could drastically change the way the Pistons’ front office approaches the offseason.

When the Pistons finished the 2025-2026 regular season with the Eastern Conference’s top seed, it seemed Jalen Duren was well on his way to a max deal, and the Pistons might’ve cracked the code with their current roster.

Now, a Duren max deal has plenty of question marks, while the Pistons certainly could use an upgrade in the shooting department. Before Game 4 on Monday night, the former NBA veteran Chandler Parsons tossed out a name he would like to see the Pistons pursue.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves.

What Did The Ex-NBA Player Say About Reaves And Detroit?

GettyMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MARCH 29: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 29, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

“If the Lakers don’t pay Austin Reaves, Detroit go get him,” Parsons said. “He’d be perfect.”

Despite injury concerns throughout the 2025-2026 NBA season, Austin Reaves was an All-Star-caliber contributor for the Lakers. In 51 games, Reaves averaged 23.3 points, while shooting 49.0% from the field and hitting on 36.0% of his threes. He also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

The Pistons had to cut ties with one of their homegrown guards at the 2026 deadline, trading Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls. Reaves will be 28 next season, but he’s a proven veteran who is entering his prime years.

Detroit is ready to compete and needs to start making more aggressive moves after spending the last two seasons playing it safe and seeing what they are working with. The 2026 playoffs call for better shooting.

Should Jalen Duren Return To The Pistons?

GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 17: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after he dunks in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Little Caesars Arena on November 17, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rick Osentoski/Getty Images)

The question is worth several hundred million dollars.

A small sample size shouldn’t define a player’s value–but the playoffs hold so much weight that it just might. Before Duren competed in Game 4 with the Pistons against the Magic, former NBA sharpshooter Lou Williams made it clear that he supports a Duren max in Detroit.

“I want everybody to get their money. You won’t hear me talk anybody out of their money,” Williams said on Monday.

“The impact that he has had for this team and being an All-Star guy, I think he deserves his money. They got to put the pieces around him to make it all figure out and to make it work.”

On one hand, Duren had an All-Star season. He posted averages of 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and nearly 1.0 blocks per game. He’s just 22-years-old.

But the playoff struggles this season are real. If Reaves is a real option in free agency, would the money be better spent on the Lakers’ sharpshooter over the homegrown Pistons big man? These are the questions to expect in the coming months, depending on how the playoffs shake out.