Pistons left a lingering question behind Cade Cunningham

The Detroit Pistons struggled last season when Cade Cunningham was on the bench, especially in the playoffs, when coach JB Bickerstaff could hardly afford to give his superstar a breather. 

After Jaden Ivey flamed out, the Pistons were left with just two-way guard Daniss Jenkins as the backup point guard and hoped that guys like Caris LeVert and Kevin Huerter could fill in the holes. 

That didn’t happen, and the Pistons paid for it in the playoffs when it was clear they didn’t have enough ball handlers to weather Cunningham being on the bench for long. 

It’s a problem that will follow them into next season, as the Pistons are mostly relying on the same guys and will face the same challenges when the engine of their offense isn’t on the floor. 

Daniss Jenkins has to take care of the ball 

Jenkins was a great story last season, but if he wants to be more than that, he has to seize the backup point guard duties full time. 

He had a less defined role last season, didn’t play consistently and wasn’t always asked to lead the offense when Cunningham was on the bench. That likely won’t be the case next season, as the Pistons are still thin on ball handlers and will need him. 

But Jenkins had a 15 percent turnover rate last season, even worse than Cunningham’s even though Cade was often getting double teamed.  Jenkins' rate is far worse than most of the players who led the league in turnovers per game, so he has to clean it up.

Jenkins did a decent job of setting up teammates, averaging just under four assists per game, but he needs to bump that up and cut down the turnovers. 

Jenkins has the mentality of a floor general but needs to be more of a steady hand when it comes to running the offense. He should benefit from the improved shooting, which will offer him more space to work in and hopefully cut down some of the turnovers he commits when he runs into traffic in the lane. 

Ebuka Okorie may be important right away 

Jenkins isn’t a traditional point guard, and neither is rookie Ebuka Okorie, as both players will look for their own shot first. 

I do think there is a path to minutes for Okorie, especially if he takes care of the ball, same as Jenkins, as the Pistons can’t afford more turnovers.  

It’s not as if the cupboard is completely bare for Detroit when it comes to backup point guards, but they are counting on a guy who was a two-way player just last season and possibly a rookie, so I am somewhat surprised the Pistons didn’t try to add a veteran to complement them. 

The Pistons hope they have internal solutions, but the issue of what happens when Cade sits is one that will follow them into next season. 

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