Detroit Pistons: 3 storylines that can’t be ignored this season

Dec 23, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Josh Jackson (20) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell (0) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Josh Jackson (20) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell (0) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
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Detroit Pistons, Josh Jackson
Josh Jackson #20 of the Detroit Pistons takes a shot against the Boston Celtics (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Detroit Pistons are a rebuilding team with new life after drafting Cade Cunningham with the number one pick.

Most of the narratives this season are going to revolve around Cunningham and the young core, as the Pistons finally have some promising talent to build around and hope to take the next logical step on their timeline for contention.

But there will be storylines that are not about Cunningham and there are three somewhat pressing ones that the Pistons will not be able to ignore.

Here are three narratives that are going to be around until some kind of resolution is made.

Detroit Pistons: Josh Jackson’s expiring contract

Josh Jackson is entering the final year of his team-friendly contract with the Detroit Pistons and they are going to have to make a decision about what to do with him.

He has shown some promise and there are likely some teams that would like to trade for him, especially considering he’s on an expiring deal that only pays him $5 million a year.

Has that promise been enough to warrant an extension with the Detroit Pistons? Jackson played good defense and had some big scoring games for Detroit, but he also shot the ball poorly and turned it over way too much.

The Pistons also have a similar and younger player in Hamidou Diallo, who does many of the same things and also has a shot that needs improvement. I can’t see the Pistons keeping two non-shooters, so unless one of them starts to knock down shots consistently, Jackson may have to go.

He’s one of the Pistons who may not finish the season in Detroit, so this storyline is one to watch.