Detroit Pistons: Crying? Ha! 3 takeaways from the loss to Sacramento

Detroit Pistons: Dennis Smith Jr. is making his case

When the Detroit Pistons traded Derrick Rose to the Knicks, they took a flyer on former lottery pick Dennis Smith Jr., who was out of the Knicks’ rotation and headed to the G-League.

After a rough start shooting the ball, Dennis Smith Jr. is starting to get his legs under him and looks like a guy who could be the next rehab success story in in Detroit.

After dropping 17 points and six assists on the Kings, Smith Jr. has now scored in double digits in three straight games solidifying his role as the point guard with both Killian Hayes and Delon Wright out with injury.

Smith Jr. has shown good hands on defense and is starting to regain the hops he was known for as a rookie in Dallas.

This guy is still only 23-years-old and has looked like the player the Knicks thought they were getting when they made him the centerpiece of the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

If Smith Jr. continues to play well, he may end up with a future job as the backup point guard in Detroit, in which case the Derrick Rose trade looks like a home run.

It was not a pretty loss to the Kings, but the Detroit Pistons are okay with it, as they need to stay in the bottom three to ensure that they have maximum odds on lottery day.

So enjoy your big win, Kings! I’m sure it is one you’ll be telling your grandchildren about.