In 2019, the Detroit Pistons took an opportunity on a High 10 NBA Draft decide by buying and selling for Thon Maker.
On the time, Maker was falling out of favor with the Milwaukee Bucks, main him to request a commerce. The Pistons, Bucks and New Orleans agreed to a three-team deal in February 2019.
In the long term, Maker did not work out in Detroit, like his state of affairs in Milwaukee. After getting one other likelihood with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Maker in the end discovered himself taking part in exterior of the NBA in 2022.
The journey shouldn’t be over, nonetheless. Earlier this week, the Houston Rockets introduced they acquired Maker as they enter coaching camp forward of the 2024-25 NBA season. Maker is reportedly competing on an Exhibit 10 deal in Houston.
The veteran heart is much from a really promising prospect. When the Pistons acquired Maker, he was in the midst of a season the place he got here off the bench for 35 video games to provide 5 factors and three rebounds per recreation.
After becoming a member of the Pistons in 2019, Maker appeared in 29 video games for Detroit. He earned 5 begins. Throughout that stretch, Maker noticed the courtroom for a career-high 19 minutes per recreation.
The large man struggled from the sector, making simply 37 p.c of his photographs. He produced six factors per recreation whereas grabbing 4 rebounds and blocking one shot per outing.
The 2019-20 season marked Maker’s first full season with the Pistons. It additionally served as his finale.
In 60 video games, Maker averaged 5 factors and three rebounds. He improved his discipline objective proportion, averaging 48 p.c from the sector. Whereas Maker was a restricted free agent throughout the next offseason, he didn’t obtain a qualifying provide from the Pistons.
Maker’s final run within the NBA got here in 2020 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After an eight-game streak, Maker was waived. Since then, he has performed within the G League, China and Lebanon. Maker will try a return to Houston with the Rockets. If he would not make the ultimate roster, he may find yourself with the staff’s G League affiliate within the Rio Grande Valley.
