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LAS VEGAS -- The Pistons are a proud franchise. They’ve tasted the ultimate success and expect to be among the league’s best every year.
Being down isn’t a position Joe Dumars enjoys.
As one might expect, Detroit’s president is in rebuild hyperdrive. He’s hired another new coach (John Kuester), signed two coveted free agents (Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva) and is overseeing an infusion of youth into the roster.
The NBA Summer League team features four rookies expected to be on the roster once the season rolls around. First-round pick Austin Daye (No. 15) is joined by second rounders DaJuan Summers, Jonas Jerebko and Deron Washington, who was drafted last year and spent the season in Greece.
“We’re trying to get young, versatile athletes and that’s what you’re seeing with these four guys,” Dumars said Saturday. “We feel like we can put them out there and they can all play two or three different positions, and that’s the direction we’re going in.”
All four starred in an 91-87 victory over Toronto at the COX Center. They each scored in double figures, combining for 63 points and 27 rebounds as Detroit improved to 2-0. None logged less than 27 minutes.
But unlike the other three, Daye didn’t get a breather. The wiry 6-11 forward played the entire game, all 40 minutes, scoring 19 and adding a team-high eight boards.
By the time he emerged from the curtain-draped makeshift locker room next to the stands after the game, Daye caught his breath. He knows those type of minutes likely won’t come during the regular season, so he’s taking advantage of it now.
“I don’t want to give myself crazy expectations and just kill myself trying to get there,” the 21-year-old from Gonzaga said. “My main goal going in is just to get better no matter what. I don’t care about playing 20 or 30 minutes a game. If I can get in some games and get better in practice, I’m going to be happy.”
Washington wowed the lively crowd with several high-flying feats. The 6-7 swingman nearly tore the rim down a couple of times on his way to 13 points and added six rebounds in 31 minutes. Washington also took part in a spirited duel with Raptors guard Quincy Douby throughout the contest.
Jerebko had 12 points and seven boards, splitting time between center and power forward. Summer League coach Darrell Walker has been impressed with the ability of the 6-10 rookie from Sweden to play both frontcourt spots.
“He’s just a solid basketball player,” Walker said. “He has a skill level that a lot of guys take two or three years to have.”
Summers followed up Friday’s 24-point effort with 19 and six rebounds. In addition to the work the 6-8 forward did in the paint, Summers has shown an ability to step out to the 3-point line. He’s hit 2-of-5 from downtown through two games.
“They all have good hands,” Walker said. “They all can run. The two fours [Summers and Jerebko] can flat out shoot the basketball.”
Just because the Pistons are in transition coming off a 39-43 season doesn’t mean these four rookies will be thrown into the fire. If the current roster remains intact, which is not a given, the four rookies will be competing for minutes behind a number of veterans.
“We still have guys in front of them like [Tayshaun] Prince and Rip Hamilton and Villanueva, so it’s not like we have to throw them out there with a bunch of young guys,” Dumars said. “We feel good about how we can bring them along. We have some good players in front of them.”
