The Pistons have waived forward Lamar Stevens and four other players, per the NBA transactions log.
Along with Stevens, Detroit released Dereon Seabron, Aaron Estrada, Javante McCoy and Tolu Smith. All five were on Exhibit 10 contracts for training camp and are now likely headed for the Motor City Cruise of the G League.
Stevens’ career began in 2020 in Cleveland, where he played for current Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff in each of his first three seasons.
He appeared in 38 total games last season, playing 19 apiece for the Celtics and Grizzlies before entering unrestricted free agency. He signed with Detroit last week.
Stevens, 27, is 6-foot-6 and carries NBA career averages of 5.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 203 games. He averaged 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in his 38 games in 2023-24.
He looked good in limited preseason action, but became victim of a numbers game, as Detroit is ripe with young frontcourt talent on guaranteed contracts.
The Pistons have undergone a little bit of a makeover — hiring Trajan Langdon as head of basketball operations, Bickerstaff as coach, and bringing in veterans such as forward Tobias Harris, shooting guard Malik Beasley and wing Tim Hardaway Jr. to pair with an otherwise young cast.
They open the season Wednesday at home vs. the Pacers.
An Exhibit 10 contract is a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal. It doesn’t count toward a team’s cap unless the player makes the final roster. It also can be converted to a two-way deal before the season begins or mean guaranteed money if a player is waived and then stays on the G League club for at least 60 days.
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