Former Pistons Guard Shown the Door by New Team to Clear Room for Award-Winner

This former Pistons guard will have to find a new team after getting waived on Sunday.
Detroit Pistons v Los Angeles Lakers
Detroit Pistons v Los Angeles Lakers | Katelyn Mulcahy/GettyImages

Even though the NBA Summer League is wrapping up and NBA free agency has quieted down, it still hasn’t stopped teams from across the league from making moves to improve their roster for next season.

The Detroit Pistons got off to a hot start in free agency, as they acquired Duncan Robinson in a trade from the Miami Heat, and also signed Caris LeVert -– two solid vets that should fit in well with their young core. 

Meanwhile, a former Piston is on the hunt for a new job after his most recent team decided to kick him to the curb.

Ex-Pistons Guard Shake Milton Gets Sent Packing by Los Angeles Lakers

On Sunday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Los Angeles Lakers waived former Pistons combo guard Shake Milton. Milton’s contract for next season, worth $3 million, was scheduled to become guaranteed today.

However, with the Lakers signing veteran Marcus Smart, Los Angeles needed to free up a roster spot, making the ex-Piston expendable.

Milton appeared in 30 games with the Lakers this past season after being acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in the Dorian Finney-Smith-D’Angelo Russell swap. The veteran guard didn’t do much when he played, averaging 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 11.5 minutes per game.

Before spending time with the Lakers and Nets last season, the 28-year-old Milton played with three different teams in the 2024-25 season, including the Pistons. Detroit acquired Milton in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The veteran guard only played in four games with the Pistons before being waived at the top of March that season, where he was signed for the rest of the year by the New York Knicks. In his short stint in the Motor City, Milton averaged 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 15.8 minutes per game.

That said, the former Piston will now hit the open market, where he still has time to latch on with a team that needs additional guard depth. He doesn’t do one thing particularly well, but again, is a guy who can give you some minutes during the arduous 82-game season.

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