Who says you can’t go home again? Derrick Walton Jr. played three games for the Detroit Pistons back in early 2020. The former Michigan standout and Detroit native might be coming back.
James Edwards III of The Athletic (PAID SUBSCRIPTION) reports that former Michigan point guard Derrick Walton Jr. will be signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Detroit Pistons.
If true, this will be Walton’s second go-around with his hometown team.
He signed a 10-day contract with Detroit on February 21, 2020 and appeared in three games for the Pistons, averaging 1.0 points, 1.7 assists and 1.0 assists. He was not resigned when the 10-day expired. The league shutdown12 days later due to the pandemic, so any chance at a return was ended.
Walton is a 6-foot guard who was born in Detroit and played for Chandler Park Academy High in Harper Woods, before going to the University of Michigan. He played four years for the Wolverines He was a fine shooter in college, averaging 40.4-percent on three-pointers in his career.
Walton’s coach at Michigan was John Beilein, who is now a development director with the Pistons. That connection might have helped his chances of hooking up again with Detroit.
After playing for the Wolverines, Walton then began the well-travelled life of a player on the fringes of the NBA. A two-way deal with Miami, then Bulls training camp, some time with the Clippers and then traded to Atlanta, who waived him. He signed with Detroit 15 days after the Hawks released him.
Walton was with the 76ers in training camp last season, and ended up playing professionally in France.
The 26-year-old Walton has played 42 NBA games in his career. He still has that good outside shot, making 41.5% of his threes in NBA games.
What would Derrick Walton Jr.’s role be with Detroit Pistons?
A spot opened up on the Pistons training camp roster due to the Jahlil Okafor/Sekou Doumbouya trade to the Nets.
With Killian Hayes, Saben Lee, Cory Joseph and some guy named Cade Cunningham all able to play point guard, there does not seem to be space for Walton on the Pistons at this time. Of course, a trade might send some of them (no NOT Cunningham) to a different place.
While Exhibit 10 contracts do give a player an invite to training camp and a non-guaranteed one-year deal, its main benefit is if they end up in the G-League. An NBA team can give an Exhibit 10 player bonuses ranging from $5-50,000 to play for their team, on top of their G-League salary.
Walton is probably targeted, right now, for the Pistons new G-League team, the Motor City Cruise. A native Detroiter, who played for Michigan as well as the local NBA team, certainly would help the Cruise in its inaugural season gain credibility.
And if the Pistons do suffer some injuries in the backcourt, Walton could make his return to the NBA Pistons.
Either way, Derrick Walton Jr. will have the chance to play professional basketball in his hometown. Not many get to have that opportunity.