The Pistons’ offseason was defined as much by what they passed on as what they brought in, and the biggest lingering question remains the same one that has followed Cade Cunningham since he arrived: who else is going to create offense?
Detroit didn’t land the reliable second creator it spent the summer being linked to, so the pressure now shifts inward. Ausar Thompson is part of the answer, at least in theory, but the first two preseason games showed exactly why this is still a work in progress. He looked excellent in game one and then struggled in game two, which is probably the range the Pistons should expect as he grows into more ball-handling responsibility.
That leaves the bench, and specifically Daniss Jenkins.
Jenkins has been easy to overlook with all the attention aimed at the Jalen Duren situation and the team’s new faces, including rookie point guard Ebuka Okorie. But last season, Jenkins was quietly Detroit’s second-best creator.
He averaged just under four assists per game in 20 minutes a night, production that fits the role the Pistons need him to fill. His 21 percent usage rate only makes that output look more valuable.
The next step is about cleaning things up. Jenkins turned the ball over too often - his 15.3 percent turnover rate was even a tick higher than Cade Cunningham’s - and there were stretches where he held onto the ball too long and slowed the offense down. Those are the habits he has to trim if he’s going to become the creator Detroit didn’t add this offseason.
So far in preseason, the early signs have been encouraging. Jenkins has looked comfortable steering the offense and has made a noticeable effort to get teammates involved. He should also have better support around him, with more shooting available with the second unit, which gives him a real chance to push his assist numbers into the 5-6 range if the minutes and opportunities stay steady.
Ideally, Detroit gets a little more usage out of him as the backup point guard and a lot less sloppiness with the ball. That balance is part of why the Pistons felt okay standing pat this summer: they believe internal development can cover some of the ground. Jenkins now has a real opportunity to be one of the players who makes that bet pay off, but he’ll have to keep sharpening his game and prove he can be trusted with the offense.
In Other News...
Pistons Have 3 Early Preseason Standouts Fans Need To Watch
Halfway through the preseason, the Pistons have split their first two games, and a few unexpected names have already started to push their way into the conversation. Detroits early exhibition work has offered a useful look at the rotation battle, with Ebuka Okorie, Paul Reed and Ron Holland II each turning in performances that stood out for different reasons as the team sorts through its options ahead of the next tune-up.
Okorie has given the coaching staff a spark, Reed has provided steady production around the paint, and Holland showed why he remains one of the more intriguing young pieces on the roster after leading the club in scoring in the opener. None of that settles anything yet, but it does give the Pistons something worth monitoring as the preseason rolls on and the lineup picture starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
John Collins Gives Pistons Fans One Big Offensive Fit Concern
John Collins has arrived in Detroit with a very different offensive profile than the one Tobias Harris brought to the power forward spot, and that distinction matters for a team still sorting out how its half-court attack will function. Through two preseason games, Collins has looked like an off-ball scorer first, the kind of big who can finish plays, cut into space and stretch a defense, while the Pistons are banking on his size and 3-point range to give them some lineup flexibility.
The fit, though, depends on what comes from the rest of the roster. Collins is not being asked to drive the offense, and the early look suggests Detroit will need more shot creation from its guards and wings if his value is going to show up the way the front office hopes. If the ball handlers can consistently put defenses in rotation, Collins can help open the floor and even slide into small-ball center looks, but the margin for error shrinks if the team expects him to do much more than finish the possession. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Are Showing An Offensive Shift Fans Have Been Waiting For
Detroit spent much of last season stuck near the bottom of the league in 3-point shooting, a problem that made life harder on everyone else in the half court. This summers additions were meant to address it, with Isaiah Joe, John Collins and Taurean Prince all arriving with reputations as capable shooters who can help stretch the floor and open things up for the rest of the roster.
Early preseason games have already hinted at a different offensive feel, with the Pistons launching noticeably more shots from beyond the arc than they did a year ago. The bigger question now is whether that approach sticks once the games count, because a steadier diet of threes could be the simplest way to improve spacing and make Detroits offense less cramped for the players who have to create inside the arc. [Read more 🡒]