The Detroit Pistons will aim to continue their perfect NBA Summer League run when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday afternoon. The future of the Motor City looks bright after the Pistons improved to 2-0 in the Las Vegas stretch of the summertime action with Sunday's 98-93 win over the Houston Rockets, leaving time to tell if a third consecutive win is in store.
While seeing the Pistons notch back-to-back victories is encouraging, not everyone has been playing with a winning mentality. In fact, one Detroit player's disappointing performance so far may have just landed him on the chopping block before July is over.
Pistons PF Bobi Klintman Might Be on Chopping Block in July
Pistons fans entered the summer looking forward to seeing what Bobi Klintman had in store. The former 2024 37th-overall selection was sparsely seen during his rookie campaign, averaging only 1.9 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and .600/.400/.500 shooting splits in eight NBA appearances (5.3 minutes per night).
Although it was a small sample size, Klintman's solid shooting from the floor and long distance had the fan base excited to see what he could do in the summer.
The 6-foot-9 power forward hasn't lived up to expectations, unfortunately. Klintman is only averaging 8.5 points through the Pistons' first two Summer League games, all while shooting 40.0% from the field and 28.6% from the three-point line. He's respectfully averaging 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists, too, but his offensive struggles make it difficult to be excited about anything else.
Unless things change, it's hard to imagine Klintman being an integral part of the Pistons' 2025-26 rotation. His shooting can use a lot of work, while he doesn't capitalize on his size down low often enough, making it more likely that he'll spend most of the season with the NBA G League's Motor City Cruise until he rediscovers his confidence.
If things don't quickly change, potentially by the end of the summer, the Pistons could contemplate trading Klintman. Detroit can't bring home the Larry O'Brien Trophy without a roster that head coach J.B. Bickerstaff can completely trust, and the recent second-rounder could be moved if it means achieving that goal.
With the clock ticking on the NBA Summer League slate, Klintman must find a way to turn things around soon if he wants to remain a part of the Pistons' future.