The Detroit Pistons will start the season shorthanded, which has opened up a big opportunity for two-way player Daniss Jenkins, who has a chance to be a savior.
Jaden Ivey is out for at least a month when he’ll be re-evaluated, so the Pistons can’t count on him until at least the middle of November.
Marcus Sasser is also dealing with a hip impingement that could keep him out for the opener, which leaves the Pistons with little point guard depth behind Cade Cunningham.
Jenkins will likely be the next man up, and if what we saw in preseason holds he looks up to the task and could secure himself a full-time contract in the process.
Detroit Pistons rotation: Daniss Jenkins at backup point guard
Caris LeVert and Ausar Thompson will likely get more opportunity to handle the ball with Ivey and Sasser out, but the Pistons will also turn to two-way guard Daniss Jenkins, who played well in the preseason in a featured role.
It now makes sense why the Pistons played Jenkins nearly 23 minutes per game over four preseason games, as they knew their other guards were nursing injuries and that Jenkins might get thrust into minutes right away.
He averaged 11 points and four assists in that time, scoring from all three levels and getting to the free-throw line, which would be a nice boost off the bench if it carries over to the regular season. Jenkins had strong shooting splits and didn’t look out of place running the offense or playing off the ball.
He will have to take better care of the ball, as he also averaged 2.5 turnovers in that time, a quality that will keep him on the bench, as it’s a team-wide problem for the Pistons that can’t be made worse by a backup point guard.
With Marcus Sasser’s team option soon to be decided, Jenkins has been gifted an opportunity to earn himself a bigger role moving forward, as he’s more of a creator than Sasser and will be on a much cheaper deal.
Sasser’s salary nearly doubles next season, so the Pistons may pass if it looks like Jenkins can handle the fringe rotation minutes that he, Sasser and Chaz Lanier are fighting for.
It’s not how we wanted it to happen, but Daniss Jenkins is going to get a chance to be an unsung hero for the Pistons if he can handle the backup minutes while they wait to get healthy.