The Detroit Pistons have a Cade Cunningham problem, and it’s the kind that doesn’t go away just because the roster gets a little deeper elsewhere. Unless something dramatic changes in personnel, they’re headed into the 2026-27 season still short on perimeter shot creators. That leaves Cunningham carrying too much again unless somebody else steps up fast.
Right now, the best bet is Daniss Jenkins.
At 25, Jenkins was arguably Detroit’s most dependable offensive guard behind Cunningham in 2025-26. He finished second on the team in assists per game at 3.9 and also sat second in assists per 36 minutes at 6.9. He was second on the Pistons in drives per game too, at 7.5.
Stretch that to 13.3 drives per 36 minutes, and Jenkins’ value becomes pretty obvious for a team that finished No. 22 in drives as a group, even with Cunningham ranking No. 5 individually. Detroit needs someone who can get into the paint and keep the offense from stalling, and Jenkins already showed he can create that pressure.
The issue is what happens once he gets there.
Jenkins was effective at getting downhill, but not always at finishing the job. He shot 38.5 percent on drives and averaged 0.85 points per isolation possession, which leaves some room before he can be considered a true No. 2 perimeter creator. The flashes are there; the consistency still has to catch up.
That said, Jenkins has only 79 NBA games on his résumé, so there’s still room for growth. The Pistons are going to need it.
He’s also in a battle with rookie Ebuka Okorie, though there should be enough minutes and touches to keep both involved. Jenkins’ edge is obvious: he’s already been in NBA games, even if only briefly, and that experience could matter if the opportunities are tight.
If Detroit gives him the runway his game suggests he deserves, Jenkins can help run the offense both with Cunningham and in support of him. That’s where the fit starts to make real sense.
He also profiles as a potential sixth man who can stabilize the second unit. Jenkins can put pressure on defenses with his handle, get downhill, and make sure the offense doesn’t dry up when Cunningham is on the bench. That kind of shot creation matters just as much in the non-Cunningham minutes as it does next to the star.
There’s also a clean shooting case for Jenkins alongside Cunningham. In 2025-26, he shot 37.4 percent from three and an even better 45.6 percent on catch-and-shoot threes. That kind of perimeter touch gives Detroit a path to playing him next to Cunningham rather than only as a backup ballhandler.
Of course, the concerns are real. Jenkins is listed at 165 pounds, and there are fair questions about whether he can add enough strength to hold up defensively or absorb contact when he attacks the rim.
If he makes that leap, though, the Pistons may have found the long-term answer they need at the 2. For now, Jenkins is the safest answer to a problem Detroit still hasn’t solved. Another player could always surprise them, but the most productive slasher and playmaker behind Cunningham is already in the building.
In Other News...
JB Bickerstaff Now Has A Pistons Problem Fans Will Welcome
JB Bickerstaff spent last season leaning on a Pistons defense that finished near the top of the league, and it gave Detroit a clear identity even when the offense stalled in the playoffs. This summer, though, the roster around Cade Cunningham shifted enough to create a different kind of coaching challenge, one that looks much more appealing on paper for a team that needed more scoring help.
Detroit added Isaiah Joe, John Collins and Taurean Prince, and brought back Kevin Huerter, giving Bickerstaff more shooting and spacing options to sort through. The tradeoff is unavoidable: the Pistons also moved on from Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris, so the same coach who built his edge on defense now has to keep that side intact while figuring out how to get the best offensive balance from a deeper, more varied group. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Duren May Be Weighing A Risky Bet On His Future
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What makes the situation worth watching is how much of it could hinge on patience, timing and risk. Duren has been discussed as a player who could hit free agency next summer, and the path there is not as straightforward as it looks from the outside. For Detroit, the question is whether it can keep control of a key frontcourt piece without letting another team turn the market into a test of conviction, especially if Sacramento reenters the picture with a more aggressive approach. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons May Have Found A Real Backup Center In Paul Reed
Paul Reeds playoff run gave the Pistons something they had been searching for behind the starter: a dependable backup center who could hold up in meaningful minutes. He barely saw the floor at times during the regular season, but the postseason brought a different level of trust, especially in the second round against Cleveland, where his energy and versatility stood out enough to shape Detroits thinking going forward.
The organization has now backed that up in a real way, and Reed enters the next season with a clearer path to a larger role than he had for much of this year. His limited usage before the playoffs might have left questions about how much he could help over a full schedule, but the way he handled that Cleveland series has positioned him as the Pistons top option off the bench at center, with his long-term future still set to be decided down the line. [Read more 🡒]