FEBRUARY 23: The Pistons have officially signed Hampton, the team announced.
FEBRUARY 21: Former Magic guard R.J. Hampton plans to sign with the Pistons after he clears waivers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
Hampton, the 24th overall pick in 2020, was waived by Orlando on Tuesday afternoon.
Hampton had a rotation role in his first season-and-a-half with the Magic, but has seen his playing time decline precipitously in 2022/23 after the team turned down the ’23/24 team option on his rookie scale contract. Hampton appeared in just 26 contests this season, averaging 5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on .439/.340/.838 shooting in 13.9 minutes per game.
It’s not a given that Hampton will join the Pistons, since it’s possible he could be claimed. He has a $2,412,840 cap hit for 2022/23, so a team with cap room or a trade exception big enough to absorb that amount could place a claim.
Detroit has an open roster spot, so it won’t have to make a corresponding move.
The Pistons have been rotating Jaden Ivey, Alec Burks, Killian Hayes and Cory Joseph at the guard positions. Hampton could take over some of Joseph’s minutes as he auditions for a new contract. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, as James Edwards III of The Athletic hears that he’ll just be signing a rest-of-the-season contract with Detroit (Twitter link).
Why would someone claim him? To do so would restrict them from offering him more than the amount of the declined option, which wouldn’t be an issue if he cleared waivers. They could also have traded a protected 2nd for him if they liked him that much.
Nobody will claim him unless they were asleep before the deadline. I can see a lot teams that would want him after he clears waivers though. Detroit is near perfect for him
Good move. Now waive Noel and draft a SF in the draft and they are golden
Can a trade exception be used to acquire a player off waivers? I thought they were limited to trades.
If he wants to go to the Pistons, the only teams that could jump in front of them would be the Rockets and Spurs. Assuming they don’t, the Pistons could use the DPE for Cade Cunningham to claim RJ before anyone else gets the opportunity.
Called it!
I did see it . I called Wiseman way ahead of time
R.J. Hampton still has a future in this league and I knew he wasn’t going to be out there long. He needed a change of scenery because he was behind Markelle Fultz Gary Harris Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs on the depth chart. Then other than Gary Harris they all extremely young. He could run into some similar issues with the Detroit Pistons but with Cade Cunningham out until next year it’s some minutes for him right now.
Was out on him when he was in Denver
What do you mean you were out on him? Didn’t like him?
Other then the rare spurt of energy and some good cuts he looked lost
He was definitely raw. Hated losing him at the time and I think he has value today but he had too many better players in front if him in Orlando. Not sure Detroit will be a better situation for him.
Hope the young man gets in together in DET.
He can not shoot at all, should be a wide receiver, would probably be great at it cause he’s not a basketball player just an athlete.
Agreed at one time yet his shooting seems improved this season.