The minor bits of housekeeping for the Detroit Pistons continue with word coming via Chris Haynes that Detroit and Jaylen Hands have mutually agreed to part ways.
Oh, you don’t remember Jaylen Hands?
The rights to the young two-way player were part of the three-team, 10-player, five second-round pick deal that involved, among others, Luke Kennard, Saddiq Bey, Bruce Brown and Landry Shamet.
While the Pistons retained Hands’ rights after the trade, the team did not sign him to a two-way deal and there was little chance he had much of a future with the Pistons.
In January 2021, Hands signed a two-year contract with with a Serbian team in the ABA League. Hands is now free to explore opportunities with other NBA teams as an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers, but he will most likely continue playing overseas for the immediate future at least.
Hands was a two-year player at UCLA, averaging 14.2 points and 6.1 assists as a sophomore. He was drafted by the Clippers with the 56th overall pick in 2019. Ironically, it was a pick previously owned by Detroit courtesy of a trade with the Orlando Magic for Jodie Meeks (remember him!?!) and then sent to LA as part of the gigantic Blake Griffin trade, which definitely worked out perfectly for Detroit.
Hands was eventually traded to the Nets and spent 41 games with the Long Island Nets in the G League where he struggled, averaging 11.3 points and 3.5 assists.