The other Purdue guard is not returning to Pistons

Do not order your teal Carsen Edwards uniform. It has been reported he will not attempt a return   to the Detroit Pistons, or even the NBA, and has instead opted to play professionally in Turkey.

It is no secret that Pistons general manager Troy Weaver loves to take chances on players who were highly thought of at one time but, for whatever reason, have not seen their NBA career take off as expected.

Josh Jackson, Dennis Smith Jr. and Marvin Bagley III are top 10 draft picks who found their way to Detroit.

Carsen Edwards was not selected as high as them, but he was the third pick in the second round of the 2019 draft. Many Big 10 Conference fans thought the Purdue guard, who was such a big scorer for the Boilermakers, would be sort of a Vinnie Johnson type ‘microwave scorer’ in the NBA.

Edwards was drafted by the Boston Celtics, who used pick from the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the Matisse Thybulle trade (and Sixers fans were mad as hornets they lost out on Edwards).

Edwards had averaged 24.3 points a game for Purdue his junior year, and he showed some flashes of his scoring ability in Boston.

But the Celtics gave up on Edwards after two seasons, trading him last September to the Memphis Grizzlies, who waived him eight days later.

Edwards went to the G-League, where he returned to his high scoring ways.

When Edwards on April 3 signed a two-year contract with the Pistons,  he was averaging 26.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals for the Salt Lake City Stars.

Detroit only had four games left in the season, but he made an immediate impression.

Carsen Edwards begins Detroit Pistons career with a bang

The day of his signing, Edwards was thrown right into the fire, and was the first player off the bench against the Indiana Pacers. Edwards responded with 13 points as the Pistons defeated the Pacers, 111-107.

It was Detroit’s last win of the season.

Edwards never had the shooting success of his debut, going 4-for-15 in Detroit’s remaining three games.

Since he had signed a two-year deal, Edwards was still a member of the Pistons at the end of the season. However, the second year of his contract was only guaranteed if Detroit picked up his option by June 28.

WIth Cory Joseph picking up his player option, and Detroit drafting Jaden Ivey, like Edwards, a former Purdue player, the Pistons were now pretty crowded at the guard position. If Edwards had shot better from three-point range (making only 25-percent of his threes), he might have stayed but, on June 28, they released Edwards.

Just because Detroit released a player does not mean they can not come back. Players like Rodney McGruder, Joseph and Devidas Syrvidas had been let go but returned to play for the Pistons.

Edwards going from NBA to Istanbul

However, it has been announced that you will not see Edwards at the Ford Performance Center this fall, or on this continent playing.

Edwards will be playing in the highly competitive Turkish League for Fenerbahce which is based in Istanbul. Fenerbahce went 24-6 last season, so Edwards is going to one of the top teams.

Edwards will be playing in the backcourt with another American, Scotty Wilbekin, a standout at Florida who had been in the training camp of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Terms of the contract were not revealed, but almost all club teams have an out for the player to join the NBA. So, do not be surprised if you see Edwards back in the NBA in the future.

Detroit gave a Carsen Edwards a chance and, although he will no longer be on the team, the fact they remain open to players who hold promise is a positive.