Just before the new NBA season begins, the Detroit Pistons are finalizing the team’s roster around the ends.
Detroit plans to convert Stanley Umude to a two-way contract, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Detroit Pistons plan to convert guard Stanley Umude to a two-way NBA contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Umade earns roster spot out of training camp after averaging 9.3 points, 43.8 percent 3-point shooting and 17 minutes over four preseason games.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2023
Umude has been with the Pistons organization since signing an Exhibit 10 contract to compete in the team’s training camp in advance of the 2022 season. He spent the majority of last season playing with the Motor City Cruise, outside of earning a 10-day contract with the Pistons in mid-February.
During the Cruise’s regular season, he averaged 15.4 points per game (PPG) and 4.7 rebounds per game (RPG) in 27.5 minutes per game (MPG). He shot 38.5 percent from three on more than six attempts per game.
The second-year guard who played most of his college career with South Dakota before finishing with Arkansas had a strong preseason showing for Detroit, averaging 9.3 PPG while shooting 43.8 percent from deep on four attempts per game. He delivered 18 points and five rebounds, making four out of his five three-point attempts during the Pistons preseason win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Montreal.
Umude joins Jared Rhoden and Malcolm Cazalon who both signed two-way contracts with the team in July. Beginning this season, NBA teams are permitted to have up to three players under two-way contracts on its roster at any time, in addition to the maximum 15 players under standard NBA contracts. Players under two-way contracts may be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team.
The Pistons still stand at 14 players under standard contracts. According to HoopsRumors, if a team isn’t carrying a full 15-man roster, its two-way players can only be active for a combined 90 games. This CBA wrinkle incentivizes the Pistons to fill their final roster spot as the regular season approaches.
So, with the Umude news, the Pistons may have another standard roster move looming.