Donta Hall is the Detroit Pistons frontcourt safety net

The Detroit Pistons signed big man Donta Hall to a 10-day contract from the Grand Rapids Drive. He serves as a safety net and could see time.

Donta Hall has earned his spot on the Detroit Pistons roster, even if he doesn’t get an opportunity to play.

The 6-foot-9 center was a G-League All-Star with the Grand Rapids Drive and dominated opposing forwards. He is tied for the league-lead with 21 double-doubles in 36 games. The 22-year-old averaged 15.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 66.2% from the floor and 28% on 3-point attempts.

Hall signed a 10-day contract with the Pistons after they bought out Markieff Morris and he cleared waivers on Sunday. Hall will have an opportunity at a second 10-day contract before either returning to the G League or being signed on for the rest of the season.

"“There was an opportunity to come up to get some games with us,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey told reporters. “Whether we use him or not will depend on Thon (Maker), Christian (Wood), Sekou (Doumbouya) and how they’re doing.“We won’t hesitate to play (Hall) if the situation calls for it.”"

That situation could come before his first 10-day contract runs out. The Pistons (19-40) are in the midst of a four-game road trip with the Denver Nuggets looming Tuesday. They have a loaded frontcourt and the high altitude will test the Pistons’ depth.

Last week, Casey said the Pistons were using the rest of the season to evaluate which players would fit in to their future. He also noted that 10-day contracts would be used to try and find hidden gems, which includes Hall.

The Pistons signed point guard Derrick Walton Jr., who hasn’t played yet since signing. Hall also was absent from the box score on Sunday. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t being evaluated in practice and for Hall, he has a prime opportunity to prove himself.

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Hall is likely battling against Thon Maker — the Pistons de facto center since Andre Drummond was traded — and veteran John Henson. Both are good tests to the strength and athleticism Hall could bring to the Pistons’ frontcourt. Christian Wood has also gotten time at center but is athletic enough to get minutes at power forward, too.

In terms of physicality, Hall can hang with his young teammates who have seen more NBA action. He’s familiar with playing alongside Sekou Doumbouya from their time together with the Grand Rapids Drive. That could be a pairing to watch for as those two have some type of chemistry.

But the speed and physicality of the NBA is different. Expect Hall in small increments, if anything, unless a game gets out of hand quickly, foul trouble plagues the Pistons’ frontcourt or an injury thrusts him into action.

Hall is the Pistons safety net, for now, but could lead to an expanded roll depending on how he performs in his first NBA opportunity.