The Pistons’ rise has been built on youth, and two of the younger names in the mix are making a real case for more responsibility next season.
Detroit is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory, finishing with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and 60 wins. With Cade Cunningham leading the way, the franchise has climbed from a franchise-worst 14 wins to a legitimate Eastern Conference contender in just two seasons. As the team turns toward the 2026-27 NBA regular season, the conversation naturally shifts to which young players have earned a bigger slice of the rotation.
Chaz Lanier is one of them. The 2025 second-round pick and former Tennessee Volunteers guard arrived at the 2026 Summer League looking to force the issue, and he made his point in Las Vegas.
Detroit only managed one win in Summer League play, but Lanier stood out anyway. Over a two-game stretch, he piled up 49 points and hit 15 three-pointers.
That showing came after a quiet rookie season in the league. Lanier played 34 games for the Pistons and averaged 2.4 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.
Detroit has already made moves this offseason to improve its three-point shooting, and a rotational role for Lanier could give that effort another boost from deep. Still, the Summer League surge is just a start, and he’ll need to carry that momentum into next season before anything is guaranteed.
Daniss Jenkins has already done the harder part: turning opportunity into trust. He went from a two-way player who appeared in just seven games during the 2024-25 season to a meaningful part of the Pistons’ rotation this past year.
Jenkins played in 72 games last season, starting 19, and averaged 9.3 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game. His progress was enough for Detroit to pick up his option this offseason. He also showed he could handle a larger workload when called upon, and in the starts he earned during the regular season and playoffs, he generally made his presence felt.
Now he’s positioned for even more. Jenkins will be part of a guard group that also includes Isaiah Joe, acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and veteran Gary Harris, who came over from the Milwaukee Bucks.
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Durens side of the ledger looks much trickier for the Pistons. After a disappointing playoff showing, he is reportedly pushing for a max extension, even as Detroit has every reason to be cautious about committing that kind of money right now. For a young center still trying to prove he can anchor winning basketball when the games get tighter, the gap between what he wants and what the team is willing to discuss could define the next stretch of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Daniss Jenkins Could Force A Tough Pistons Decision Next Season
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For Jenkins, the appeal is obvious: if his game takes a real step forward, he could make himself more than just another young piece on the roster. The Pistons would love that kind of growth on the floor, but it would also mean a tougher call when it comes time to talk about his next deal, especially with the team trying to preserve flexibility for the contracts still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Reed Is Suddenly Central To A Huge Pistons Question
Paul Reed is suddenly in line for a much bigger job in Detroit after the Pistons reshuffled their frontcourt this summer, and it puts a spotlight on one of the quieter but more important roster questions heading into next season. Reed showed he could be efficient in limited playoff minutes last spring, and now the Pistons need that same energy to translate into a steadier backup center role, with his work on both ends carrying more weight than it did before.
The fit matters because Detroit wants to keep its edge in the paint while also taking a step forward in the postseason, and Reeds preparation suggests he already understands the stakes. He has also been active on social media revisiting the Pistons-Cavaliers playoff series, a sign that he is already thinking about what needs to change, even if the bigger answer to how he handles the expanded role is still to come. [Read more 🡒]