Pistons may have already found next year's Daniss Jenkins

The Detroit Pistons hit on a two-way player this year in Daniss Jenkins, who played his way into the rotation and a full-time contract, and may have another future player in the pipeline in Tolu Smith. 

Smith has only appeared in six games so far this season, so it’s hard to predict what his future as an NBA player will be, but he does look like an NBA player. 

Smith has gotten emergency minutes, including 18 in the win last night over the Knicks, and he held his own against a very good Knicks frontcourt. 

Tolu has dominated in the G-League, averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and 1.2 blocks per game for the Cruise, but he’s also provided valuable backup minutes at the NBA level. 

The Pistons hope to make themselves a team where young talent is developed, and they are off to a good start with Daniss Jenkins and hopefully Tolu Smith, who could be the next man up in Detroit's pipeline.

The Pistons have to develop cheap talent as the roster gets more expensive 

I’ve said this a million times, but it’s imperative now more than ever for teams to develop inexpensive talent at the back end of the payroll. 

Cade Cunningham is already on a max deal, Jalen Duren is about to get a raise, and Ausar Thompson’s will come the year after that, so the Pistons’ payroll is about to balloon. 

If the Pistons want to be able to keep all the guys they have, then it’s important to keep hitting on a player like Jenkins. 

Jenkins has not only played impact minutes for the Pistons, but allowed them to move on from Jaden Ivey, avoid his cap hold and the headache that comes with his next contract. 

The Pistons have a lesser problem brewing with Paul Reed, who might be too good for his role and is eventually going to get a bigger salary from someone.

Developing another two-way player like Tolu Smith would allow the Pistons to fill a deep bench spot on the cheap and hopefully by then he’ll be ready for that role. 

Smith has already shown himself to be a capable rebounder, and he has some fight around the rim. His passing numbers in the G-League are intriguing, which is an important skill for a team that likes to use their center in short roll situations. 

Trajan Langdon has done well to find low cost, impact talent this season in Daniss Jenkins, Javonte Green and Paul Reed, and the Pistons hope Tolu Smith is next in line.