The Pistons are planning to sign second-year free agent Cassius Stanley, according to James Edwards III of The Athletic (twitter link).
Stanley was drafted 54th overall in the 2020 draft by the Pacers and signed a two-way contract with the team, but only saw game action in a total of 93 minutes across 24 games – an average of 3.9 MPG. The Pacers withdrew their two-way qualifying offer to Stanley last month, making him an unrestricted free agent.
An extremely athletic but raw player, Stanley is perhaps best well known for participating in the 2021 Slam Dunk Contest. He also played 12 games for the Pacers’ G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, averaging 12.7 PPG/3.3 RPG/1.7 APG in 27.8 MPG over 12 games, with a .413/.267/.533 shooting line.
Edwards doesn’t specify what type of contract Stanley will receive, but the team doesn’t currently have a two-way slot open, so a standard contract, perhaps with Exhibit 10 language, seems likely. As has been previously noted, it’s possible the team could convert Luka Garza‘s two-way contract into a standard contract before the regular season, which would free up a two-way slot, and Stanley is two-way eligible. That may be his best path to sticking with Detroit.
If Stanley does sign an Exhibit 10 contract, he would be eligible for a bonus worth up to $50K if he’s waived before the regular season and then spends at least 60 days with the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise.