The Detroit Pistons’ reserves have been outstanding this season, which has helped the team withstand several key injuries, but not everyone is getting in on the action, as Bobi Klintman still hasn’t been able to get on the floor.
We’ve seen everyone from Javonte Green to Daniss Jenkin step up and play well when given increased opportunity, which has been huge for the Pistons, especially of late with Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Caris LeVert and Cade Cunningham all missing time.
The only positive from these injuries is that they’ve given opportunity to players who might have otherwise been glued to the bench, they have made the most of them and the Pistons keep winning shorthanded.
Given all of the injuries, you’d think there might be some room for 2nd-year player Bobi Klintman to see spot minutes, but he’s still buried in the depth chart and there doesn’t appear to be a way out.
If Bobi Klintman isn’t playing now for the Pistons, when will he?
Klintman was a second-round pick, so it’s not like he was expected to step in and make an immediate impact. The Pistons knew he was somewhat of a project but liked his offensive upside as a big forward who can shoot and make plays with the ball.
But even with the Pistons missing 3-4 rotation players some nights, Klintman still hasn’t stepped on the floor. Even with a recent back-to-back against the Cavs and Knicks, the latter of which was a blowout win in which nearly everyone played, Klintman didn’t sniff the floor. Even down three starters against a shorthanded Chicago team, Klintman was nowhere to be seen.
He wasn’t even available, as the Pistons have him in the G-League, so it wasn't like he got passed over, he wasn’t even an option. Tolu Smith saw five minutes against the Bulls and rookie Chaz Lanier played 12, so the Pistons were digging deep for options, and Klintman wasn’t even among them.
It wasn't a vote of a confidence for Klintman when the Pistons went out and signed Isaac Jones amidst some early season injuries.
It’s also not a great sign when a player isn’t even an afterthought during a tough and busy part of the schedule with a lot of guys banged up and unable to play. Even with Tobias Harris out, you'd be hard pressed to even put Klintman's name on the depth chart at all.
As I said, Klintman is a project, and it’s not as if the Pistons were counting on him for anything this season, but he doesn’t have an optimistic projection for the future if he’s not even a mop-up option in this context.
Hopefully, Klintman will get the reps he needs in the G-League and eventually make some kind of impact for the Pistons, but if not, he’ll join the vast majority of second-round picks that never do.