The Detroit Pistons didn’t make any major splashy additions this summer, so the burden of improvement is landing where it often does for young teams: on the players already in place.
That means the growth of Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson still matters a great deal. But beyond that bigger-picture development, there are three young Pistons who enter next season with real pressure on them for very different reasons.
Daniss Jenkins suddenly finds himself in a far more important spot than anyone would have expected not long ago. Other than rookie Ebuka Okorie, the Pistons don’t really have another backup point guard option, which leaves Jenkins as the guy. He went from a two-way contract to a role that now matters in a major way.
The Pistons clearly believe in him, and that’s notable considering they didn’t bring in a steadier veteran presence behind their young guards. Jenkins stepped up in the playoffs last season, and now he’ll need to carry that momentum into a bigger, more regular assignment.
Detroit has to be able to sit Cade Cunningham without the offense going off the rails, so Jenkins will be expected to handle the ball, keep the group organized and avoid the kinds of mistakes that can unravel a bench unit. He was a good story before.
Now he has to be more than that.
Ron Holland II is in a different kind of spot. He just turned 21, but this is already his third season, and the time has come for him to expand what he brings. Holland can affect games even without much scoring, which makes him unusual, but that kind of profile becomes a problem in the postseason when opponents zero in on weaknesses.
If he’s going to matter in a bigger way, he needs to offer something on offense beyond fastbreak points. Otherwise, teams are going to keep backing off and daring him to prove he can hurt them. That leaves Holland in a pivotal year: he could become an X-Factor if the shot starts to come around, or he could end up as trade bait at the deadline if he still can’t carve out a real rotation role.
Then there’s Jalen Duren, and his situation carries the most scrutiny. The saga with Duren still hasn’t been resolved, and as things stand right now, he isn’t even on the Pistons roster. If that gets sorted out, the pressure doesn’t go away - it only shifts onto what he does next.
Duren held out all offseason looking for more money after his breakout season, so the expectations are going to be heavy no matter what the final number is. He’ll need to prove last year wasn’t a one-off and that he can keep building on it, because Detroit is counting on him for points.
And if the Pistons do get into the playoffs, he’ll have to show up there, too, since that’s been the main criticism hanging over him so far. Fans are going to watch closely, and if he doesn’t deliver, the patience will wear thin fast.
In Other News...
Pistons Could Be Waiting To Pounce On A Trade Opportunity
The Pistons spent the offseason shaping a roster with an eye on flexibility, and that approach could matter again once the NBA trade deadline arrives. Detroit has positioned itself to keep an eye on teams such as the Magic, Rockets and Mavericks, where the early-season results and roster decisions could eventually create names worth monitoring.
For a young team still sorting out its own direction, the appeal is in being ready before the market fully forms. If one of those clubs starts looking different by midseason, Detroit could have the cap room, patience and willingness to act on an opportunity rather than chase one after everyone else has already moved. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Joe Could Be The Pistons Bench Answer They Needed
The Pistons spent enough time chasing offense last season to know how valuable a reserve shooter can be once the games tighten up. Clevelands playoff run against Detroit offered a reminder of that, with Max Strus stretching the floor in a way that changed how the Cavaliers could attack the series. For a Pistons team trying to climb back into the East race, that kind of bench weapon is exactly the sort of piece that can make a rotation feel more complete.
Isaiah Joe fits that conversation cleanly, which is why he stands out as a possible answer for Detroits second unit. The comparison to Strus is less about name value than about function, since a dependable shooter who can stay on the floor and force defenses to account for him can reshape playoff possessions. With the Eastern Conference still leaning on spacing and shot-making in the margins, the Pistons would love to see Joe turn that role into something more than just a useful option. [Read more 🡒]