Shortly before training camp, the Boston Celtics signed Wendell Moore Jr., adding him to the battle for their final two-way roster spot. That ultimately went to Ron Harper Jr. However, Moore was a player the organization wanted to continue working with, via their G League affiliate in Maine.
However, his time there didn't last long. The Detroit Pistons quickly scooped up the former Duke Blue Devil. It was a reunion between the two sides. Moore appeared in 20 tilts with the franchise that resides in "The Motor City" last season. He averaged 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 11 minutes of floor time.
The former 26th overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022 NBA Draft has immediately received opportunities to help a Pistons team dealing with injuries. Most notably, Cade Cunningham has missed their last three matchups since suffering a hard fall during a win over the Washington Wizards.
Jalen Duran recently returned from a sprained right ankle. However, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Bobi Klintman remained sidelined. Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser are yet to make their season debuts.
Wendell Moore Jr. capitalizing on second-chance with Pistons
With the injury bug biting Detroit in the early stages of the current campaign, Moore has played in all three games since rejoining the fold. He is averaging 2.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 14.3 minutes of floor time.
Most recently, the six-foot-five wing, who has impressed at the defensive end of the floor during his NBA opportunities, swiped a steal and registered a +9 plus-minus rating in his 15 minutes on the hardwood during the Pistons' 127-111 victory vs. the Indiana Pacers.
Detroit's 3-0 since the three-year veteran returned. The Pistons have won 10 straight tilts, starting the season 12-2. That has them sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings despite dealing with some of their best players shuffling in and out of the lineup.
Moore is building on the momentum he built even before his strong showcase during Summer League in Las Vegas.
After he left the Pistons last season, Moore joined the Charlotte Hornets, playing for former Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee. In the "Queen City," he generated 5.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per contest while logging 17.5 minutes across 16 games.
The Virginia native also knocked down 37 percent of the 1.7 threes he hoisted. While that's a small sample size, if he can consistently pair reliable shooting with his effective on-ball defense and disruptive work as a help defender, then Moore's days in the G League may be over.