The Detroit Pistons were already shorthanded without the services of Blake Griffin, so losing Delon Wright for at least several weeks is going to hurt.
Wright will be evaluated in two weeks with a strained groin that is also going to strain the Pistons’ already thin roster.
The Pistons aren’t really trying to win anyway, but Wright was playing well and was starting to get some trade buzz around the league.
Wright was also establishing himself as a fan-favorite with his gritty play, so losing him will not only hurt the Pistons’ chances of winning games but also the development of the young shooters like Saddiq Bey, who Wright was often setting up with his passing.
Delon Wright’s injury will have a domino effect on the Detroit Pistons, here’s how.
Detroit Pistons: With Delon Wright out, the tank is on!
One of the reasons the Pistons have been hanging in so many games this season is that veterans Mason Plumlee, Wayne Ellington and Delon Wright have been pretty good.
They are smart players who don’t take much off the table, so that alone was enough to keep Detroit from getting blown out too often.
With Wright out, the tank is well and truly on, as the Pistons’ offense needs his dribble penetration, passing and scoring, which was obvious in the most recent loss to the Magic.
He also sets up some of their 3-point shooting, which already got worse in his absence, as the Pistons hit just 11 of their whopping 40 attempts last night against Orlando.
The Detroit Pistons still have just eight wins and are two games below the Cleveland Cavaliers for the worst record in the East.
Only Minnesota has been worse, and they just fired their coach, which will hopefully inspire them to win a few games.
Detroit wants that number one pick and they are on their way to having the best odds to get it.
Detroit Pistons: Will Dennis Smith Jr. or Frank Jackson step up?
Dennis Smith Jr. was hoping to be the next successful rehab project in Detroit, but so far it has not gone well.
The 23-year-old has only played about 16 minutes per game since joining Detroit, mostly because he has not shot the ball well and has been turning it over far too much.
With rookie Saben Lee playing well (more on that in a minute) Smith Jr. found himself on the bench for most of the game against the Magic.
If Smith Jr. can’t crack this rotation then there is little chance for his future in the NBA, as Detroit is desperate for bodies at this point.
His poor play should lead to more time for Frank Jackson, who I actually like. I watched quite a lot of Jackson with the New Orleans Pelicans and think he can be a player. He is strong enough to defend both guard positions, though he is a streaky shooter without much range.
One of these two guys is going to seize the role and it will probably be a point guard by committee approach until one of them does.
This is the type of chance both guys have been waiting for, so one of them needs to step up.
Detroit Pistons: Will Saben Lee earn a full-time contract with the Pistons?
Another thing to keep an eye on with Delon Wright out is the contact status of Saben Lee.
Lee is on a two-way contract, so he can only spend so much time with the Pistons before they have to convert it and add him to the roster full time.
Lee has played well in his short amount of time, showing flashes of a guy who could have a career as a change-of-pace backup point guard.
He filled up the stat sheet against the Magic while playing 33 minutes, second to only Jerami Grant.
If Lee keeps playing well the Pistons will have a tough decision to make, as they probably don’t want to add him to the full-time roster yet but may have no other choice with a limited number of guys who can play the point.
Dwane Casey is going to have to do some juggling and the Pistons will have some tough decisions to make, as two of their three young guards are probably not going to be with the team next season.
Lee has take an early lead in that competition, which is something to keep an eye on as we wait for Delon Wright to return.
Detroit Pistons: Trading Delon Wright is far less likely
Delon Wright had played his way into a trade asset and there were a couple of teams sniffing around, mostly notably the Philadelphia 76ers.
Now that Wright will be out for at least two weeks, the chances of him getting traded are much lower, as the trade deadline is quickly approaching and he may not have time to re-establish himself and show he his healthy upon his return.
This may not be the worst thing, as Wright fits the type of player Troy Weaver seems to covet, which is that he plays hard, is versatile and doesn’t seem concerned about his individual stats.
Wright will still have value as an expiring contract in the offseason or at next season’s trade deadline so the Detroit Pistons don’t have to be in any hurry to trade him and he might have more value if they wait.
Every team needs quality, low-cost depth like Wright, so he might not be a bad guy to keep around long term if the price is right.
Delon Wright’s injury is unfortunate and changes a lot of storylines for the Detroit Pistons. Let’s hope he comes back healthy, as he has been one of the pleasant surprises of the season.