{"id":154651,"date":"2025-07-08T01:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T01:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/154651\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T01:15:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T01:15:11","slug":"detroit-pistons-announce-signing-of-tennessee-guard-chaz-lanier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/154651\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Pistons announce signing of Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Pistons on Monday announced the signing<\/a> of Chaz Lanier<\/a>, who the franchise took in the second round of the NBA Draft at No. 37 overall on June 26. The terms of the contract were not disclosed.<\/p>\n

Spotrac, the website that specializes in contracts and salary cap information, estimates Lanier to earn $1.2 million<\/a> during his rookie season in the NBA.<\/p>\n

Lanier is on the Pistons\u2019 Summer League roster<\/a> and will wear jersey No. 20.<\/p>\n

.@Swaggychaz<\/a> is officially a Piston \u270d\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/3ek30UFPcH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 7, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

Lanier in his one season at Tennessee<\/a> averaged 18.0 points per game last season while shooting 43.1% from the field and 39.5% from the 3-point line.\u00a0He made 123 3-pointers in 38 games, breaking the previous record of 118 held by Chris Lofton.<\/p>\n

The Nashville native transferred to Tennessee from North Florida, picking the home-state Vols over Kentucky and BYU. He had a breakout senior year at North Florida in 2023-24, averaging 19.7 points per game and making 108 threes in 32 games, shooting a career-high 44.0% from the 3-point line.<\/p>\n

Chaz Lanier was First Team All-SEC, SEC Newcomer of the Year with Vols<\/p>\n

Lanier in April won the Jerry West Award, given annually to college basketball\u2019s best shooting guard, and was also named third-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and The Sporting News.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He was also named an All-American by the Wooden Award, was First Team All-SEC and won the SEC\u2019s Newcomer of the Year award.<\/p>\n

The majority of mock drafts entering the first round of the NBA Draft Wednesday night had Lanier projected between No. 37 and No. 40, while two outlets had him as a possible late first-round pick<\/a>. ESPN had Lanier ranked No. 38 overall on its list of the top 100 prospects for the draft.<\/p>\n

Tennessee\u2019s NBA Draft history, picks during the Rick Barnes era<\/p>\n

Last year Dalton Knecht<\/a> became the eighth Tennessee player drafted during the\u00a0Rick Barnes<\/a>\u00a0era and the highest selection at No. 17 overall to the Los Angeles Lakers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Keon Johnson<\/a>\u00a0went at No. 21 overall to the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2021 NBA Draft, followed by\u00a0Jaden Springer<\/a>\u00a0at No. 28 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers.\u00a0Julian Phillips<\/a>\u00a0was picked at No. 35 overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2023 and\u00a0Kennedy Chandler<\/a>\u00a0went at No. 38 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022.<\/p>\n

Tennessee had three players selected in the 2019 NBA Draft.\u00a0Grant Williams<\/a>\u00a0went at No. 22 overall to the Boston Celtics,\u00a0Admiral Schofield<\/a>\u00a0went at No. 42 overall to the Washington Wizards and\u00a0Jordan Bone<\/a>\u00a0was No. 57 pick to the Detroit Pistons.<\/p>\n

There have been 55 Tennessee players drafted dating back to 1948. There have been 12 Vols picked in the first round, with Barnes responsible for four.<\/p>\n