It seemed like a no-brainer that the Detroit Pistons would extend a full-time contract to Daniss Jenkins, but Jenkins had other ideas.
The two-way guard reportedly turned down a minimum offer from the Pistons according to insider Jake Fischer (subscription), who said:
“Sources say two-way contract standout Daniss Jenkins recently declined the Pistons' offer of a new contract at a minimum salary for the rest of this season and next season."
He also added, “The Pistons do still have access to their bi-annual exception from the offseason to make a more substantial offer to Jenkins, but it also makes sense for the Eastern Conference leaders to preserve as much financial flexibility as they can in the short term.”
There is no reason to panic, as the Pistons are unlikely to lose Daniss Jenkins here, but he has put them in a more precarious position as the trade deadline approaches.
Daniss Jenkins has leverage against the Detroit Pistons
Jenkins has worked his way into the rotation but only has three games of two-way eligibility left. The Pistons have two more games before the trade deadline and one on the day of, so they are forced into a decision here.
Depending on what the Pistons do before the trade deadline, they may have an extra roster spot, in which case they can bump up their offer, but Jenkins can play hardball if he wants to, as some team will offer him multiple guaranteed years in the offseason. He's smart to bet on himself.
The Pistons may have to offer an extra guaranteed year, something Trajan Langdon has been hesitant to do with role players, as he wants to remain as flexible as possible.
Of course, if the Pistons have no big moves or significant additions planned, they will have to open up a roster spot a different way, likely by cutting Isaac Jones or Bobi Klintman.
The most likely scenario is that Jenkins gets his deal at a slightly higher rate than the minimum, which could still end up being a bargain for the Pistons.
If Jenkins continues to prove he’s a reliable backup, he’s worth having at the back of the bench, as he’ll contribute at a low cost and won’t be a contract that will bog them down. He's shown enough to think he'll be good value for the cap space he'll command, an asset that is crucial in the tax apron era.
But this does add another element to the Pistons’ trade deadline, which is shaping up to be a relatively quiet one thus far, but we know that can change in an instant, so I wouldn't rule anything out.