Bye B-Ball Paul, Trade Speculation, and Bobi Klintman | The Weekly Drive
The Pistons played one game in the last week thanks to the weird schedule for the NBA Cup.
Hey Pistons fans, it’s that time again for the Weekly Drive. Detroit may be a football town for the next few months, but the basketball team is still rolling on. There was some buzz around a potential roster move, a Pistons rookie is getting healthy, and trade season has officially begun. Let’s get into it.
Weekly Game Recaps
Yes, the information below is correct. The Pistons, along with the majority of the league, had a light week while the NBA Cup rolled on. As a result, Detroit only played one game in the last week.
Game 26: Detroit 99, Boston 123
Rapid Detail: Jayson Tatum sat out, but Payton Pritchard picked up the slack with 27 points of his own. Detroit went 9/56 from the three-point line while Boston drilled 20 of them. Ron Holland encouragingly had 26 points, though most of it did come in garbage time.
Bobi Klintman Sent to the Cruise
The Pistons announced that they have sent rookie Bobi Klintman to the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League. Klintman has yet to appear in any game this season, but this is an encouraging step for the young big. Klintman had a nice Summer League and flashed some nice potential and tools, though his pathway to the NBA this season is largely blocked. Klintman should get plenty of court time with the Cruise, though.
Paul Reed Released and Trade Speculation
Detroit released backup center Paul Reed according to ESPN Shams Charania. The Pistons later confirmed the move.
The release of Reed was an interesting one, especially considering that at the time starting center Jalen Duren missed a game due to a wrist injury. That left the Pistons with only one center left - Isaiah Stewart. The move also came conspicuously close to a period where 84 NBA players would suddenly become trade-eligible, indicating that Detroit could be close to a move. And, to make matters even more eyebrow-raising, the Pistons had to make a move to avoid losing out on their portion of the $20 million luxury tax disbursement
In the end, they did not.
Instead, they signed G League guard Javonte McCoy to a non-guaranteed deal that got them to the salary floor.
It was a lighter week for the Pistons given their oddly slow schedule (thanks, NBA Cup). This time next week things should be a little busier, so be sure to check back in then. Thanks for stopping by.
Mike