Pistons add guard Jaylen Nowell on 10-day contract

Detroit — The Pistons are signing former Memphis Grizzlies guard Jaylen Nowell to a 10-day contract, Monty Williams confirmed after Tuesday's practice.

Nowell's signing was first reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The fifth-year guard, who was selected with the 43rd pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now, he's joining one of the youngest teams in the NBA, who are looking to finish one of the worst seasons in franchise history on a more positive note.

"I expect him to come in and try to acclimate," Williams said. "He's a guy that scored in segments of his career. I watched him in Minnesota a little bit and had to scout against him. We know he can score the ball. He's been around, but I don't want to put it out there what we want from him. We just feel like guys like that who are hungry, who are looking for opportunities allow for us to have more bodies with all the guys we've lost this year. But it's also a chance for a guy to come in and help us win games."

After two 10-day contracts with the Grizzlies in November and December, Nowell has spent the bulk of this season playing for the Stockton Kings, the G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. In nine games with the Grizzlies, Nowell has averaged 5.7 points and 1.8 assists. With the Kings, Nowell totaled 17.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

The Pistons have utilized the 10-day contract several times this season. Chimezie Metu is the most recent 10-day signee, who was signed to a contract for the remainder of the season. Veteran big man Taj Gibson was also signed to a 10-day contract before signing to remain with the team for the rest of the season.

Duren update

Pistons center Jalen Duren returned to practice Tuesday after losing a tooth in the first quarter of Monday's loss to the Grizzlies.

After a collision with Jaren Jackson Jr., Duren left the game and did not return due to what the Pistons deemed a mouth injury. Williams said Duren wanted to return to the game, but the training staff wouldn't allow it.

"It's such a tough spot for him because he really wanted to get back on the floor and the medical team, at the time, deemed that he couldn't just because they wanted to save his tooth," Williams said. "I hate when guys are in that position because I got phone calls last night about him not coming back. It wasn't that. He wanted to be out on that floor as fast as he could, but the medical team couldn't allow it."

Duren played just five minutes of the Pistons' latest heartbreaking loss, which ended with Cade Cunningham missing the final shot that could've forced overtime. Meanwhile, Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 40 points and seven rebounds to lead Memphis to the victory. The Pistons will face the Grizzlies once more on Friday.

Duren is not listed on the injury report, so he should be available for Wednesday's game in Atlanta.

"In this particular day and age, guys want to compete and when it's not explained well, especially at the end, I think guys are put in a tough spot," Williams said. "I hope people understand that J.D. was fighting like heck to get back on the floor. We just didn't let him."

Pistons at Hawks

Tipoff: 7:30 Wednesday, State Farm Arena, Atlanta

TV/radio: BSD/97.1

Outlook: The Pistons will travel to Atlanta for the first of a four-game road trip on Wednesday night. The Pistons need at least three more wins to match the team's franchise worst record of 16-66, set by the 1979-80 team. The Hawks are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference and have won six of their last 10 games. Atlanta has won the last six meetings against the Pistons.

mcurtis@detroitnews.com

@MikeACurtis2