The Detroit Pistons are shuffling the deck again, and this time, a familiar name is back in the mix.
After a busy stretch that included trading Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric, and a first-round pick swap with the Timberwolves, the Pistons found themselves over the NBA’s 15-man roster limit. That meant decisions had to be made-and quickly-especially with Daniss Jenkins needing his two-way contract converted to a standard NBA deal.
To make room, Detroit initially waived second-year forward Isaac Jones. But just days later, the Pistons circled back and re-signed Jones to a two-way contract, bringing him back into the fold. It’s a move that speaks volumes about how the organization views the 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward: raw, physical, and still developing, but with enough upside to keep close.
Jones has been doing work in the G League with the Motor City Cruise, putting up 16.2 points and 7.8 boards per game. But it was his late-January performance that really turned heads.
On January 28, he closed the game with 14 straight points, finishing with a monster line: 32 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks. That kind of stat-stuffing effort is the type that makes front offices take notice.
He’s still ironing out the finer points of his game, but the motor, toughness, and production are there.
The timing of his return might not be a coincidence, either. With Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren both ejected during a heated scuffle in Detroit’s 110-104 win over the Hornets, the Pistons could be bracing for potential suspensions. If that happens, frontcourt depth becomes a real concern, and Jones could be next man up.
He’s not just a body to throw out there-he’s a player the Pistons believe in. He’s shown flashes of what he can bring, and if the opportunity arises, he might get the chance to prove he belongs on an NBA floor.
For now, he’s back in the system, waiting for the call. And given the way things are trending, that call might come sooner than later.