Michigan State Basketball: Matt McQuaid gets chance with Pistons
After going undrafted, former Michigan State basketball sharpshooter Matt McQuaid has signed a deal with the Detroit Pistons.
It may not have been the way he wanted to make it to the NBA, but Matt McQuaid has found a new home as an undrafted free agent.
While it might be a “new” home for McQuaid, it’s in familiar territory as the former Michigan State sharpshooter signed a deal with the Detroit Pistons.
The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a deal with former Michigan State Spartans guard Matt McQuaid, a league source told @TheAthleticNBA.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 21, 2019
The former Spartan sharpshooter is getting his first pro opportunity close to his collegiate home in Detroit and that could be the best-case scenario for him as well as the Pistons who need more 3-and-D guys. They drafted a project in the first round and traded their other two picks away for future selections, which makes the McQuaid signing even more crucial.
For this Pistons, this is a low-risk, high-reward signing and it doesn’t even mean he’s going to make the roster in the fall — he’s likely going to try out with the Summer League team and then maybe get a shot with the G-League affiliate.
McQuaid can create his own shots — though not at an elite level — as well as lock down opponents’ top scorers. He improved his defense tenfold while at Michigan State and that was his calling card in his upperclass years in East Lansing.
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The Pistons made a good move here and it could very well pay off for both parties. Can McQuaid catch on in the NBA or will he be forced to the G-League or overseas? He’s getting a major opportunity and it’ll be interesting to see if this is the break he needed.