The Clips still carry significant weight for an emergency trade amid intriguing contract negotiations

The Detroit Pistons continued their impressive run atop the NBA’s Eastern Conference, most recently securing a narrow 114-110 road win against the Cavaliers earlier last month. This victory was fueled by the outstanding play of two-way running back Dennis Jenkinswho scored 25 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Coach JB Bickerstaff described his performance as “amazing,” particularly highlighting a second quarter in which Jenkins went six-for-six from beyond the arc.

Jenkins credited his success to the confidence instilled in him by his teammates, stating that “Cade was just finding my teammates finding me” and explaining that he focused on stepping into his spots when the defense filled the paint.

The win allowed Detroit to maintain its lead in the standings, as well as last Friday’s game when they defeated the Warriors with a phenomenal game for Jalen Duren.

However, Marc Stein’s report indicates that this success on the field coincided with complex contract negotiations, as Jenkins he recently turned down a new offer from the Pistons. The proposal was reportedly a minimum wage deal for the rest of this season and next.

With just three games of two-way eligibility remaining for Jenkins, the organization expects to find common ground soon to make him a regular roster spot. While the Pistons could use their two-year exception to make a more substantial offer, they are also trying to preserve financial flexibility.

Jenkins may be banking on his ability to generate multi-year deals in the summer, and analysts suggest he could seek a deal similar to Ajay Mitchell’s $9 million deal or Deuce McBride’s $12 million contract.

While no firm trade talks are currently active, Detroit has been quietly monitoring the market for weeks. Charlotte is reportedly asking for at least one first-round pick for Bridges, while Brooklyn is asking significantly more to part with Porter.

With the deadline looming, the Pistons must decide if their deep roster and “next man up” mentality is enough to maintain the top spot, or if a significant acquisition is needed to finalize their championship rotation.