Not many people thought the Detroit Pistons would be sitting in the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference by the start of 2026. Fast forward to today, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has turned the team around almost overnight.
However, even the best things can be improved, and this team isn't the exception to that rule. The Pistons are rolling, and they will probably be very active in trade talks. That being said, they might have some reinforcements in the building. With that in mind, we'll talk about three Pistons who deserve a second chance to stick around and contribute in January and beyond.
3 Pistons Deserve More Chances in 2026
1. Paul Reed, C/PF
Through the first couple of months of the season, Paul Reed has averaged just 10.9 minutes per game. However, he's been one of the team's most active rebounders, averaging 17.6 rebounds per 100 possessions, roughly the same as Jalen Duren (17.9). Of course, that's not to say that Reed should be starting over Duren, but it does open the door for more playing time
After all, Reed has only played 20-plus minutes three times this season. That's a shame given the kind of impact he can create.
Given how Reed is always an instant spark of energy off the bench, he should probably get some of Isaiah Stewart's minutes. Despite being undersized, he's a slightly more efficient and aggressive offensive player, and he's not as hot-tempered as the volatile Stewart. Giving Reed more playing time would probably open up the possibility of trading Stewart, who might be more valuable in the trade market.
2. Daniss Jenkins, PG/SG
Daniss Jenkins was one of the best stories of the earlier stage of the season. He had some big games when Jaden Ivey was still nursing his injury, but, as expected, his playing time took a major hit once the latter made his season debut.
Jenkins hasn't started a game since Dec. 3, coming off the bench or being held off the floor entirely since then. Although he played over 25 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, that was the first time since Dec. 22 that he played double-digit minutes. Despite that, the ex-St. John's guard deserves a second chance at more minutes.
The Pistons fared just fine without Ivey, who hasn't gotten a contract extension yet. He's another candidate to keep an eye on for a potential trade, and while Jenkins clearly isn't the same caliber of player, giving him an extended look might make the team feel more comfortable exploring their options for Ivey.
3. Caris LeVert, SG/SF
Caris LeVert is one of Bickerstaff's guys, following him from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He's a volatile and streaky scorer who can get hot in the blink of an eye, but he needs to get more touches to get into a rhythm. And despite his connection to the head coach, LeVert is only playing 20.1 minutes per night, which is a number he hasn't surpassed in any of his last five games.
Granted, LeVert hasn't done much with the minutes he's been given, averaging just 8.4 points per game on 43.7% shooting from the floor. That being said, he could be one of the team's primary scoring options and take plenty of pressure of Cade Cunningham, especially in those moments the offense tends to get stagnant and iso-heavy. He should get more minutes to prove that he's worth keeping around when he returns from his knee injury.
Otherwise, it'll be clear that the Pistons are wasting his time, and that his second chance at more playing time should come elsewhere.