Pistons make expected Daniss Jenkins contract move

The Detroit Pistons have some big decisions ahead of them in free agency and the trade market as the 2026 NBA offseason continues. The Pistons already raised eyebrows last week by sending big man Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies in a clear cap space-clearing maneuver, as well as trading for Isaiah Joe of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Now, the Pistons have made an expected contract decision regarding reserve point guard Daniss Jenkins.

“The Detroit Pistons will exercise the $4 million team option on Daniss Jenkins, league sources told @hoopshype. Jenkins averaged 9.3 points, including shooting 37.4% from 3-point range, with 3.9 assists in 20.2 minutes, while starting 19 of 72 games for the Pistons last season,” reported NBA insider Michael Scotto of Hoopshype on X, formerly Twitter.

Jenkins burst onto the scene as a key contributor for the Pistons last year, taking over the backup point guard spot behind Cade Cunningham and providing elite quickness, defense, and an underrated outside jumper to help anchor Detroit’s second unit. While Jenkins was one of the many Pistons players to see his production drop in the postseason, he still proved himself as a valuable contributor for the team moving forward, so it’s no surprise that the team is choosing to bring him back on a bargain contract.

Meanwhile, the Pistons are under some pressure to make a win-now move this offseason, as the team is in clear need of additional shooting and playmaking to put next to Cunningham. While Detroit remains an elite defensive team, their lack of a secondary shot creator became thoroughly exposed in the playoffs, where they had to rally from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Orlando Magic before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The NBA free agency period is set to open on Tuesday.