On his 10th franchise, Ish Smith found a home with the Detroit Pistons.

Signed to a three-year deal in the 2016 offseason by the Stan Van Gundy front office, Smith is a fan favorite, with many preferring his open-floor, speed game in favor of the deliberative pace of starting point guard Reggie Jackson.

Smith, 30, spoke fondly of his time with the Pistons on April 23, the day after the team was bounced from the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks in four games.

He recalled the first two seasons when Jackson struggled with leg injuries, preventing the Pistons from reaching their promise

He looked back at this season when his own nagging groin injury likely prevented the Pistons from bettering the eighth seed, which would have allowed them to avoid the top-seeded Bucks in the first round of the playoffs.

And he looked back at teammates who have come and gone.

More:Detroit Pistons roster: Predicting who stays, who goes for 2019-20

“When you’re with one team for those three years, you’re kind of able to see that process to see things through and it allowed the city to kind of embrace you,” Smith said. “If I had to look back with my stay here in Detroit, that’s what it represented.”

There was an air of finality to Smith’s media session.

There will be a market for Smith’s professionalism and always-sunny disposition, but the Pistons will explore upgrades this offseason.

With Jose Calderon's contract coming off the books, Jackson is the only point guard under contract for next season.

There’s hope youngsters Luke Kennard, Bruce Brown and even Svi Mykhailiuk could receive point guard minutes, but surer bets will be sought.

More:Wayne State, Pistons ink deal for $25M arena on edge of campus

The Pistons have first- and second-round picks in June’s NBA draft, but it’s unlikely help will come with the 15th overall pick.

And with only the mid-level exception (worth $9.2 million), biannual exception ($3.6 million) and veteran minimum salary slots available to improve a roster that finished 41-41 and is projected to be over the $109 million salary cap, the Pistons lack the resources to go big-name hunting.

But could the Pistons find a player good enough to share a job with Jackson?

That could be the goal.

A point or a wing?

The front office headed by Ed Stefanski began offseason planning in earnest this week.

Barring a major trade, there is one main question: What will be the priority?

The Bucks exposed the Pistons’ lack of wing size, asKhris Middleton shot over defenders with ease.

The Pistons sacrificed there when they traded Stanley Johnson and Reggie Bullock before the Feb. 7 trade deadline, and it needs to be addressed.

But point guard also is crucial.

When the Pistons have had Jackson and Smith available the last two seasons, they’ve been solid.

So why not just re-sign Smith?

More:Pistons offseason cheat sheet: Here’s how they can improve

There’s his age.

There's his performance against the Bucks (he struggled — like many other Pistons).

And let’s be frank: Using most of the mid-level exception would likely bring a better option than Smith, who is a solid backup.

If the Pistons go this route, they could use the draft and smaller salary slots to address wing size.

Derrick Rose is a free-agent option who will be a subject of debate within the front office, according to a source with firsthand knowledge of franchise thinking.

Coming off a resurgent season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the one-time MVP will likely get a raise from his bargain $2.1 million salary this season.

Seth Curry is another player of interest.

Steph’s younger brother developed into a top-notch bench option for the Portland Trail Blazers.

But he is considered more of a combo guard, and there’s a belief coach Dwane Casey will ask the front office to consider a true point guard, perhaps in the mold of Jazz veteran Ricky Rubio, to take some of the playmaking load off Blake Griffin.

Rose is more of a score-first option in the mode of Jackson.

There will also be interest in Los Angeles Clippers pit bull Patrick Beverley.

If the Pistons decide to invest more in the wing spot, cheaper options could include T.J. McConnell (who has been with the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons) or a high-reward, low-risk player like Isaiah Thomas (most recently of the Denver Nuggets).

Jackson's role

The clock was winding down in the first half of the Game 4 loss to the Bucks when Jackson brought the Little Caesars Arena crowd to its feet.

With the Pistons trailing 58-57, Langston Galloway missed an open 3-pointer.

Jackson, who had delivered the pass to Galloway, didn’t break stride, sprinting all the way to the rim and skying for an impressive put-back dunk.

It was especially impressive considering Jackson had been hindered by leg injuries for two straight seasons.

“It’s tough that the season is over because my body is starting to feel stronger,” Jackson said. “I’m starting to hit a spurt, starting to get even more energy.

“I feel faster, I feel stronger. I just feel it coming. I feel more confident and this is the tough part that now that I’m feeling better the season’s over.”

Jackson was relieved to start every game this season and goes into the offseason able to fully participate in skill development.

He said he has spoken with Pistons medical adviser Arnie Kander about ways to work without putting miles on his body.

“I look forward to it,” Jackson said. “To actually be able to work out and work on my game to come back and hopefully help the team improve next year.

“I’m already looking at it from a different standpoint. I’m looking forward to workouts, but I’m also mindful of … taking care of your body. Being able to get the work in, the grind in without using as much impact.”

Jackson being able to recapture his form of 2015-16 would be helpful — though 2018-19 was a career best for him in terms of his 3-point (36.9%) and true shooting percentages (54.7%).

But he'll still need a backup. Perhaps a younger prospect on the roster? The Pistons will experiment with Kennard, Brown, Mykhailiuk and maybe even Khyri Thomas at point guard.

It would be helpful if one was capable.

But the Pistons will proceed with the idea that Jackson is the only point guard on the roster and plan accordingly.

Smith could return if an upgrade isn’t acquired when free agency starts July 1 — if he’s not off the market.

If he leaves, he’ll be missed, especially by Jackson.

“That’s my guy,” Jackson said. “They asked me about him when it was first a possibility to sign him and I was all for it. He’s been my dude since we were playing in college. I know what he’s all about. I feel like I know what’s in his heart. He’s going to give you everything he has. I always wish him the best.

“That was one of the tougher ones, to realize that we might have laced it up as teammates for the last time.”

Follow Vince Ellis on Twitter @vincent_ellis56. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.