The Detroit Pistons will resume play after the All-Star break tonight against the Magic in Orlando.
This is an important game for the lottery standings, as Orlando is also one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference, though they are currently nine games better than the Pistons. The Magic have set the bar for what the Pistons hope to be next season, which is at least sniffing the play-in before the final stretch of games.
There were some fireworks the last time these two teams played, as Killian Hayes was shoved from behind by Mo Wagner and then threw a punch that appeared to knock Wagner out, though fan reactions to the melee might have actually been worse than the incident itself.
RJ Hampton came off the bench for Orlando and was handed a one-game suspension, which is funny because he will now potentially be coming off the bench for the Detroit Pistons after being claimed off waivers.
Hampton was playing sparingly for Orlando before being cut, but will be in the Pistons’ lineup tonight against his old team?
Will RJ Hampton play in Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic?
I’m sure Hampton would love to get in this game against his old team and he might, as he is not listed on the official injury report and is still listed as day-to-day by ESPN.
The Pistons have still been using Cory Joseph for 15+ minutes per game, so if they want to give Hampton a chance, those are the minutes he is likely to get. Hampton was a high-ceiling prospect coming out of New Zealand, but has yet to really put it all together in the NBA.
He’s an athletic guard with good size who can run the floor, slash the rim and finish, but there are big question marks around his defense and his shot.
He was worth a flyer for the Detroit Pistons, who aren’t playing for anything but lottery position right now and should have several open roster spots this offseason depending on what they do with their own guys.
Hampton is just another in what is now a long line of former first-round picks that Troy Weaver hopes will find success in a new environment. He’s also the 4th player from the 2020 NBA Draft, joining Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart and James Wiseman.