Van Gundy: Pistons won't mortgage assets to replace Jennings

The Detroit Pistons have used up all of their margin for error in the 2014-15 season.

After a horrendous start to the season, the Pistons turned things around after waiving Josh Smith and now sit 17-28, good for 10th in the Eastern Conference. They're just two games out of a playoff spot and seemed, a week ago, a safe bet to secure one by the time April rolls around.

And then Brandon Jennings tore his Achilles, leaving the Pistons thin at the point for the rest of the season. They can't afford much of a slide from the level they've been performing at, but there are no immediate solutions, beyond a Pablo Prigioni-type (see the story below) or a D-League call-up. They could also reach out to the Miami Heat about Norris Cole, according to a report from Northeast Ohio Media Group.

One thing the Pistons won't be doing to keep up with Jennings out is swing for the fences with any deal that requires surrendering a useful piece of currency.

In Year One on the job, president and head coach Stan Van Gundy would surely love to make the playoffs, but he clearly and correctly sees this as a multi-year building project. The Pistons stand to have ample cap space this summer and are armed with all of their draft picks, giving Van Gundy the flexibility to build for future seasons. Keeping those assets in the warchest makes sense considering Detroit would likely be first-round fodder in the playoffs as currently constructed.

It does mean that the team will roll on with D.J. Augustin and Spencer Dinwiddie at the point, the latter of whom Van Gundy has seemed uncomfortable deploying this season. Augustin had a career-best output on Sunday with 35 points and, while inconsistent and generally unspectacular, he's shown he can handle starting duties for short stints in the past.

Not replacing Jennings on the depth chart could hurt their chances of making the playoffs this season, but the franchise's outlook extends beyond 2014-15, as it should.