The Pistons have reached a deal with undrafted rookie Louis King, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that Detroit will sign the Oregon forward to a two-way contract once the new league year begins.
King, who declared for the draft as an early entrant after his freshman year, averaged 13.5 PPG and 5.5 RPG with a .435/.386/.785 shooting line in 31 games during his first and only season with the Ducks. Although he wasn’t one of the 60 players selected last Thursday, it didn’t take him long to find a new NBA home with one of the clubs that worked him out during the pre-draft process.
The Pistons are also reportedly signing No. 57 overall pick Jordan Bone to a two-way deal, so King and Bone appear set to occupy the team’s two-way slots to start the 2019/20 season. They’d supplant Isaiah Whitehead and Kalin Lucas, who were Detroit’s two-way players to end the ’18/19 season.
Meanwhile, Michael Scotto of The Athletic (Twitter link) hears from a league source that the Pistons have also agreed to a deal with former Michigan State guard Matt McQuaid, another undrafted rookie. Scotto doesn’t offer any more details on the move, so it’s not clear whether McQuaid will sign an Exhibit 10 agreement or another form of contract, but it sounds like the deal will cover more than just the Summer League.
In his senior year with the Spartans, McQuaid averaged 9.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 2.1 APG and shot 42.2% on three-point attempts. In total, 173 of his 271 field goal attempts came from beyond the arc.
I am very surprised that King went undrafted. 6’9″ forward who can dribble the ball and play multiple positions with a sweet 3 point stroke.
Seems like everyone in the NBA is looking for these physical tools.
I agree with you. I thought he would go somewhere around 31-45. Really good looking body (#nohideonomo) and a good skill set that fits the 3 and D multi switching defensive guy that teams look for in today’s NBA. I thought he was Oregon’s 2nd best player behind Bol Bol.
This draft was pretty surprising from top to bottom. I think time will show the “weak after the top 3” narrative was really “we have no freaking idea where these guys are landing”.