The Detroit Pistons are still building out their roster. They are not done yet, as they still have to sign Jalen Duren and move some pieces around to finalize their 15-man roster.
Where they are done, however, is their two-way spots. On Thursday, HoopsRumors reported that the Pistons were signing Elijah Harkless to their final two-way slot. Harkless joins centers Isaac Jones and Ugonna Onyenso as the two-way players who will split their time between the Pistons and the Motor City Cruise while being eligible to play in 50 regular-season games.
Harkless spent the last two seasons with the Utah Jazz, appearing in 36 NBA games and 33 G League games.
Elijah Harkless is another defense-first perimeter option for the Pistons
The 26-year-old made a name for himself with his hard-nosed defense. Per HoopsRumors, Harkless earned Jazz coach Will Hardy's praise with his defense on Nikola Jokic back in March. Despite being only six-foot-three, Harkless held Jokic to only two points while guarding him. After the game, Hardy called Harkless their "best defender."
This certainly aligns with what the Pistons are trying to build. JB Bickerstaff has found success by building a strong defensive identity thanks to players who can guard multiple positions. Harkless plays bigger than his size and makes a ton of defensive plays.
In his 16 G League games last season, Harkless had 25 steals. Similarly, he has averaged over a steal in the NBA despite playing only 19 minutes per game.
The swing skill for Harkless will be shooting. He has enough ball-handling and playmaking chops, but his shot has been inconsistent. Despite making 2.4 threes per game on 41.1% shooting from downtown in the G League, Harkless has shot 24.8% from downtown in the NBA. It's important to note that his sample size in the G League is much bigger, and the Pistons have to hope that it is more representative of his ability.
There is a potential three-and-D player with additional passing chops here. The problem for Harkless is that the Pistons have such a crowded backcourt that it's hard to see him cracking the rotation barring significant injuries.
At the same time, Daniss Jenkins could serve as an example of a player who came out of nowhere on a two-way contract and established himself as an important part of the rotation. That would be the best-case scenario for Harkless, but how much of a chance he will get to prove himself remains to be seen.
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