The Detroit Pistons got some more bad injury news yesterday when it was reported that Marvin Bagley III would be out for at least 6-8 weeks with a hand injury.
At minimum he’ll be out until the end of February, and given MBIII’s extensive injury history, count me as one person who would not be surprised if he didn’t return this season at all.
The Pistons are already without Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Livers, so will be playing shorthanded for the foreseeable future.
In the short term, Detroit will likely just turn to veteran Nerlens Noel, though Noel has made it clear that he would prefer to be traded, a wish that may not happen now that the Pistons are down to only two big men.
Unfortunately, the Pistons don’t have many options in the G-League, as the team has largely been a bust this season, and one of their two-way contracts is Buddy Boeheim, a guy who couldn’t defend me, though he is now shooting 36 percent per game on 3-point shots.
Signing a player to a 10-day contract or calling up an un-assigned player from the G-League would require an open roster spot that the Detroit Pistons do not currently have. The easiest option would be to turn to their other two-way player, the recently signed Jared Rhoden, who is an intriguing prospect at a position of need.
Detroit Pistons: Jared Rhoden is a possibility
The Pistons could call up Jared Rhoden, who was recently signed to a two-way deal after Detroit parted ways with Braxton Key.
Rhoden is certainly not going to replace Marvin Bagley III, as he is a shooting guard/wing. The Pistons have a real need for a defender on the wing, and Rhoden is a 6-foot-6 small forward who was rated as an above-average defender coming out of Seton Hall.
He has improved as a shooter, so his ceiling is really a 3-and-D role player off someone’s deep bench. The Pistons are really in a can’t lose situation here, as they can call up Rhoden without making a roster spot for him, and who knows, maybe he will impress with his defense.
He’s also rebounded the ball well in the G-League, something the Pistons could also use on the wing.
It’s not like these minor moves are going to make much difference, but with the Detroit Pistons holding the worst record in the NBA, now is a great time to see if they have anything in Rhoden.