Nick Crain | 2/25/23

A former first-round selection, R.J. Hampton is still hoping to break out at the NBA level. After being selected by the Denver Nuggets in 2020, he was traded to the Orlando Magic during his rookie season. 

In 116 games as a member of the Magic, Hampton averaged 8.0 points 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game before being bought out last week. On a young Orlando roster, it’s competitive to earn time on the court and the team decided to part ways. 

From there, he was almost immediately signed by the Pistons, as he’ll look to settle in with Detroit. Still 22 years old, Hampton absolutely still has the potential to emerge as a highly impactful player in the NBA. 

He’s just in his third season in the league and has shown great scoring upside. Especially with what he’s shown at the G League level, Hampton is clearly someone who can be a microwave scorer for an NBA team. 

Hampton’s time in Detroit will be crucial, as he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. With an opportunity to earn minutes as Cade Cunningham is sidelined for the season, his performance during the final stretch of the season will dictate the value of his next contract. As of today, ProFitX projects that he’s worth roughly $6.9 million, but has the potential to grow that number in Detroit in his new situation. 

As a likely reserve with the Pistons, we predict that Hampton will have great synergy with Hamidou Diallo and Alec Burks, who he will play quite a bit with. This is key for Hampton, given ProFitX’s models think he’ll maximize his production alongside those two. 

Hampton’s fit on the Pistons overall is also projected to be positive, which could factor into his decision to join this team over others. Again, how the next 20 or more games go for him will directly impact how much money he makes this summer on a new deal. 

On the offensive side of the ball in Detroit, ProFitX projects Hampton to have a much bigger offensive impact than he did with the Magic. On defense, he also has the synergy and good fit on the Pistons roster to be a highly impactful defender across the board. 

Whether it’s re-signing with the Pistons or earning a deal with another team, the fit in Detroit should set Hampton up nicely. This is why it’s so important for athletes to consider fit when choosing their new team.