Tolu Smith has received a promotion.
The two-way contract big man signed a two-year standard contract with the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, April 7, according to a person with knowledge of the Pistons' moves but granted anonymity because the move had not yet been announced.
To make room, 2025 second-round pick Bobi Klintman was waived.
The second year on Smith's new deal is nonguaranteed.
The move comes five days before the end of the regular season and less than two weeks from the start of the NBA playoffs.
Smith, 25, has been an on-and-off rotation player this season and reliable when called upon. He has been active for the Pistons' past 13 games while Isaiah Stewart has been sidelined with a left calf strain, and has now been made playoff-eligible.
Smith is averaging 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 13 games with the Pistons this season.
His best game of the season was against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 10, finishing with nine points, 14 rebounds and four blocks while filling in for both Stewart and Jalen Duren in a 98-92 loss.
The former undrafted free agent from Mississippi State signed a two-way contract with the Pistons in 2024, alongside Daniss Jenkins. Through two seasons and 43 games with the Motor City Cruise, Smith averaged 18.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per game.
Klintman, 23, was the 37th overall pick of the 2024 draft, the first under president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon. Klintman, a 6-foot-9 forward, appeared in 20 games through two seasons, battling a calf injury to start his rookie season after a nice summer league performance. He played in 12 games with the Pistons this season, averaging 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds.
ESPN was first to report the signing of Smith.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.