Former Syracuse guard Buddy Boeheim has plenty going for him as he fights for a roster spot in his rookie season with the Detroit Pistons.
Though Boeheim was not drafted, he quickly signed a two-way contract with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, which allows NBA teams to carry two extra players in addition to the 15 on their regular season roster. Boeheim will likely bounce back and forth between the G League (the Motor City Cruise) and the parent NBA club.
Boeheim showed why the Pistons signed him in Summer League. Though Boeheim had a slow start, he started his last three games, and averaged 10.3 points in those three contests. In his first start, he led the Pistons with 18 points on 6-8 shooting from the field.
Aside from his performance on the court, Boeheim likely has the trust of the Pistons’ front office.
Detroit’s general manager Troy Weaver was an assistant coach on Jim Boeheim’s staff from 2000 to 2004. Detroit’s assistant general manager Rob Murphy was… you guessed it… a Syracuse assistant, too. Murphy is also the president of Detroit’s G-League team.
So, no doubt, Boeheim will have a sense of comfort with those in charge in Detroit. But, also, the Pistons (along with the Oklahoma City Thunder) are the ideal place for young players to land. After a 23-59 record last season (the third worst record in the league), the Pistons traded away fellow Syracuse alum Jerami Grant to fully embrace their rebuild.
Buddy Boeheim swishes a corner 3 🎯
Watch Live on ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/jBu5foBYrt
— NBA (@NBA) July 9, 2022
Detroit’s core now consists of:
- Cade Cunningham (20 years old)
- Jaden Ivey (20)
- Jalen Duren (18)
- Saddiq Bey (23)
- Isaiah Stewart (21)
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So, yeah, there sure does look like there is some opportunity for Boeheim (22 years old) to blend in with that crew. Detroit is starting to build something nice with its young roster. And what’s the old adage? Every team needs shooting?
Boeheim and his 309 career 3-pointers at Syracuse can certainly bring marksmanship. He led the ACC in scoring in his senior season at 19.2 ppg, hitting 34.1 percent of his shots from downtown.
It just seems like the combination of his age and skill set align with the franchise’s directive of fully investing in developing young talent. And, with the organization’s ties to Syracuse with Weaver and Murphy, it seems that Detroit will have Boeheim’s best interests in mind.
It remains to be seen what kind of success Boeheim will enjoy in the professional ranks. But, you don’t need to squint too hard to envision Boeheim in the blue, red, white of the Pistons next season.
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