Pistons Likely Shutting Down Isaiah Stewart, Bojan Bogdanovic, Hamidou Diallo with End of Season Nearing

Image: Detroit News

The Detroit Pistons announced that center/power forward Isaiah Stewart will be shut down for the next 4-6 weeks with a left shoulder impingement, saying he'll be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks. This isn't the first time Stewart has suffered from shoulder issues this season, he missed four games in January due to another injury. That knock seemed to have a significant effect on his three-point shooting, as he went from making 34% of his threes before the injury compared to just 28% of his attempts afterward. Considering the Pistons final game of the year is April 9th, this likely means the end of Stewart's third season in Detroit, where he averaged 11.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Additionally, Shams Charania of The Athletic has reported that the Pistons are also strongly considering sitting veteran forward Bojan Bogdanovic for the remainder of the season due to a lingering Achilles injury. While it's likely Bogdanovic could play through the strain if necessary, Detroit would rather not take the risk of aggravating such a potentially devastating injury in a season where the franchise may well finish with the worst record in the NBA and keep him healthy for the next season. Either way, their main goal at this point is finishing with the most lottery balls possible for this year's draft, and these recent injuries put them well on pace to achieve it.

The Pistons will also be playing without Hamidou Diallo for likely the remainder of the season. The team announced on Tuesday that Diallo will be reevaluated in the next 3-4 weeks with a Grade 2 right ankle sprain. The fifth-year wing had put together an effective season for the struggling Pistons, with averages of 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 57.3% shooting on the year. 

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