According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Detroit Pistons are signing shooting guard Jaylen Nowell to a 10-day contract. Nowell spent most of this season with the Stockton Kings in the G League. In 28 games played for the team, Nowell averaged 17.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Additionally, the 24-year-old appeared in nine games for the Memphis Grizzlies this season and started one of them. In these games, Nowell averaged 5.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
Detroit Pistons Sign Former Pac-12 Player of the Year
What Jaylen Nowell Brings to the Detroit Pistons
After the team recently ruled Quentin Grimes out for the rest of the season, the Pistons needed wing depth. More than anything, Nowell will provide this depth and be another body on Detroit’s roster. However, if he does get playing time, Nowell can prove impactful to the team. Nowell is a decent shooter who can score with volume. Last season, Nowell averaged 10.8 points while shooting 9.6 field goals per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Additionally, in parts of five seasons in the NBA, Nowell is a career 44.5 FG% shooter. Although he’s not necessarily a feared scorer, Nowell can provide bench scoring to the team in spot minutes. However, at 6’4″, he is relatively undersized for a traditional shooting guard. Furthermore, Nowell is a below-average defender. Still, on a 10-day contract, Nowell is a very low-risk, high-reward signing for the Pistons.
From the team’s perspective, this does not move the needle for them whatsoever. With a 13-62 record, the Pistons currently own the worst record in the NBA. Because of this, they have long been eliminated from playoff contention. The Pistons have just seven games remaining on their schedule before the season comes to an end. Currently, the most important thing for them is to end the season healthy and continue working on their roster for next season.
The Last Word
A few weeks ago, Cunningham talked about continuing to compete this late in the season:
“The season’s not over. We all have an opportunity to go out, compete and do what we love to do. I don’t feel bad for us. I don’t feel bad for myself. I know the group that doesn’t feel that way.”
Despite the Pistons’ historically bad season, there is a lot to be excited about in Detroit. Cade Cunningham has made a big jump in his third season and looks like a star in the making. Additionally, rookie Ausar Thompson looked solid before his season was cut short in March. The Pistons are a young team who should get better as their young core progresses.
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