The Detroit Pistons’ preseason didn’t settle every question, but it did sharpen the picture. With the season opener against the Boston Celtics set for October 20, a few players clearly helped themselves, while others made their road to minutes a lot tougher.
Jalen Duren sits at the top of the rise list, and for good reason. After a tense summer of contract talks, he locked in his future with a five-year, $200 million deal, then backed it up right away with a statement performance in his preseason debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In only 15 minutes, Duren poured in 24 points, flashing the scoring, physicality and efficiency that make him such a dangerous piece for Detroit. Coming off that difficult offseason, he looked every bit like a player ready for a bigger role alongside Cade Cunningham, who remains the team’s primary playmaker and scorer.
Ron Holland II has also come out of the preseason looking stronger. He’s brought energy every time he’s stepped on the floor, but it was his opener against the Phoenix Suns that really turned heads.
Holland finished with 14 points, five steals and two blocks in 24 minutes, using his burst in transition and active hands on defense to create problems all over the floor. Performances like that make a stronger wing role look increasingly realistic.
On the other side of the ledger, Paul Reed has seen his momentum stall. He took advantage of early chances while Jalen Duren was away from the team, but foul trouble has kept getting in the way, most notably when he fouled out in the overtime loss to the Washington Wizards. With Duren back in his normal spot and other backup options like Tolu Smith III also in the mix, Reed’s path to steady minutes has narrowed.
Daniss Jenkins is in a similarly tough spot. He flashed some promise during last year’s playoff run, but the backcourt picture has changed around him, and not in a way that helps his cause.
Isaiah Joe’s arrival added another name to the competition, while rookie Ebuka Okorie, the 17th overall pick, has been one of the preseason standouts. That has pushed Jenkins further down the point guard pecking order and left his role heading into the opener very much up in the air.
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Pistons Could Turn One Longtime Weakness Into A Real Deadline Strength
The Pistons spent the offseason trying to chip away at one of their longtime offensive weak spots, bringing in John Collins, Isaiah Joe and Taurean Prince to help raise the level of their perimeter shooting. Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson already give Detroit a pair of respected outside threats, and the early message from the front office has been clear: this is a team that wants to make opponents pay for collapsing the floor.
With the trade deadline approaching, Detroit is once again being tied to a list of high-end shooters that would fit that plan, including Trey Murphy III, Cam Johnson, Michael Porter Jr., Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The question now is not whether the Pistons would welcome more shooting, but which names might actually become available and whether they can turn that ongoing search into a real deadline advantage. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Suddenly Face A Tidjane Salaun Decision They Can't Dodge
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Detroit is among the teams mentioned in the speculation around Salaun, along with Portland, as front offices weigh fit, upside and the cost of making a move. Nothing appears close, and the conversations remain hypothetical for now, but the fact that Salauns name is already circulating says plenty about where Charlotte stands. The Hornets seem to be deciding not just whether to keep him, but whether another team might be willing to bet on his potential instead. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Get One Last Preseason Test Their Defense Cant Fake
The Pistons get one more preseason look before the games start counting, and the challenge against Toronto should tell them plenty about where their defense really stands. The matchup brings a mix of size, shooting and versatility that can force Detroit to sort through coverages instead of relying on the clean looks and controlled pace of earlier exhibitions, with Jalen Duren, Duncan Robinson, John Collins and Cade Cunningham all likely to factor into the discussion.
Torontos starting lineup gives Detroit a useful stress test because it can create mismatches in a few different ways, which is exactly the kind of problem a preseason finale is supposed to surface. For the Pistons, the focus is less on the scoreboard than on whether they can manage those situations cleanly, keep rotations sharp and show they have answers when the opponent starts pulling their defense into uncomfortable spots. [Read more 🡒]