The Detroit Pistons could still use more depth at power forward and point guard but may have an internal option for the latter in Daniss Jenkins.
Detroit has been slow playing the rest of their offseason after opening up a $14.3 million player exception that they can use at any point this summer or next season.
The Pistons don’t appear to be in any rush, as Trajan Langdon likely wants to keep some financial flexibility to potentially add more talent at the trade deadline as he did last season with the addition of Dennis Schroder.
Schroder’s departure will be felt, as the Pistons only have one real point guard on the roster in Cade Cunningham to go with a couple of combo guards in Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser. Newcomer Caris LeVert can also handle the ball, so for now, it appears the Pistons are willing to be patient to see if they need a veteran or if they may have an option in-house.
Detroit Pistons Summer League: Daniss Jenkins
Jenkins has been a fixture of the Pistons’ G-League affiliate, where he averaged over 21 points, seven assists and three rebounds per game last season in 32 games for the Motor City Cruise.
Jenkins also swiped nearly two steals per game, so he can get after it as an on-the-ball defender, something coach JB Bickerstaff will require of anyone who gets minutes next season.
Jenkins is more of a distributor, though he did launch over seven 3-point shots per game in the G-League, making 33 percent of them.
Detroit doesn’t need a point guard to log big minutes, as coach Bickerstaff will stagger Cunningham and Ivey, use Marcus Sasser for short stretches and even Ausar Thompson may get some time handling the ball.
But Jenkins may turn some heads in Summer League. He dropped 23 points with six assists last night against Houston while adding two steals and a block. He also got to the line six times (making them all) and hit three of his four shots from long range.
It’s unlikely he’ll be in the rotation to start the season, but if the Pistons need a steady hand or suffer an injury, Jenkins is a guy they seem to be comfortable with and may get a shot at some point.
The backup point guard spot is a bit of an obsession with Pistons’ fans, but it makes sense, as both Cunningham and Ivey have been turnover prone, so it will be a position to watch until they either sign someone or decide to go with a point guard by committee approach.