Summer league round-up: Detroit Pistons

View the Pistons summer league roster.

- Michael Bramos: Bramos is a Greek shooting guard who recently finished his senior season at the University of Miami, Ohio. (It was news to me that there were two Miami's. Seems unnecessary.) On offense, he's largely an outside shooter since he can't dribble, but he's not a great shooter, shooting 40% from the field and 36% from the three point line in his senior season. He's pretty athletic and very strong for an off-guard (standing 6'5 and 221, which is pretty freaking heavy for a man that height), and he also has a hell of a wingspan. These reasons and more are why Europe is his inevitable destiny; that and the door-opening Greek passport, obviously.

- Will Bynum: Last year was a strange one for Will Bynum. Michael Curry played him and played him and played him and played him for three months, and he sucked. Then, in March, Bynum somehow broke out. He became able to get to the rim at will, and drained 21 footers like he'd never been able to do. Eventually he became a key contributor for the Pistons, had a 32 point 7 assist game versus Charlotte, and averaged nearly 12 points per game for Detroit in the playoffs. And now Pistons fans are grateful that Bynum's going to be on their roster and earning the minimum salary next year.

- Austin Daye: Detroit bailed out Daye's decision to declare way too early by picking him 15th overall this year, a pick with which I am not overly fond. They clearly see more in this athletic jump shooting specialist than I do. (This is a position that, in the long run, I am willing to modify. I admit that I didn't see a lot of Daye in his college career. But I also didn't see a lot in him, either. Yes, he might be the next poor man's Rudy Gay, but remember something; Rudy Gay isn't that good. And that's why Gay's ass is going to be traded at the deadline.)

(Hehe, "Gay's ass".)

- Ibrahim Jaaber: it's quite the surprise to see Jaaber on here, in amongst the undrafted talent and regurgitated D-League filth that so permeates summer league rosters. Jaaber has become a star in Europe recently; as a starting guard for Lottomatica Roma last season, Jaaber averaged 14.1 points, 2.6 points and 2.5 steals in the Italian league. But clearly the NBA is on his mind, or he wouldn't be going to down the summer league route. He is capable of a way bigger stage and way more money than this. Still, good luck to him. It's the American dream.

Ibrahim Jaaber fact: Ibrahim Jaaber, a Brooklyn native who has never played in Bulgaria, has a Bulgarian passport. So does Olympiakos and former Grizzlies forward Mike Batiste. And Chicago Bulls draft pick Mario Austin was offered one, but gallantly refused it. It all seems a bit illicit, doesn't it?

- Jonas Jerebko: Jerebko was one of twelve small forwards drafted by the Pistons this year, but since they're apparently going to sign Deron Washington to a guaranteed deal (which I'll believe when I see it), then it looks like there's no spot for Jerebko to come over this season, even if Walter Sharpe is dumped. Jerebko averaged 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds for Angellico Biella last season, but still needs to improve his dribbling and his jumpshot. So keeping him overseas seems like the best thing to do. At least give Dajuan Summers the opportunity to flame out first.

- Dwayne Jones: Considering that the Pistons currently only have Kwame Brown at centre, and that Dwayne Jones is kind of NBA calibre-ish, then you have to think that he has a decent chance of making the roster at some point, unless he completely screws the pooch. Jones played 49 minutes with the Boobcats last year, totalling 12 points, 12 rebounds and 6 fouls, and also played 7 minutes in Turkey, totalling 1 point, 1 rebounds and 3 fouls for Efes Pilsen. He spent most of the season in the D-League, playing for three teams; the Iowa Energy (1 game, 1 point, 1 rebound, 4 fouls), the Idaho Stampede (12 games, averaging 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks) and the Austin Toros (22 games, 17.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks). He's never significantly developed his offense, and is now 26, but he's a good enough player to be in the NBA, and he seems to have picked his summer league team wisely. Good chance here.

- Andre Owens: Owens is a former Jazz and Pacers guard who spent last year as one of the two American imports for Crvena Zvezda, the other one being Lawrence Roberts. Those two were also the two oldest players on the team, as the roster outside of them was made up almost exclusively of Serbian and Bosnian youngsters, most of whom will be draft candidates one day soon. (And some of them, including Nemanja Bjelica and Elmeden Kikanovic, are slated to be second rounders next year. But more on them later.) As the veteran star on the team, a role that he's never had anywhere before, Owens averaged 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the Eurocup, doing a little bit of everything and shooting fairly well from outside the arc. But Detroit might not have the room for him.

- Trent Plaisted: Plaisted playsted with Jerebko at Angellico Biella last year, which may explain why Detroit zoned in on JJ so early. However, Trent only played in two games with the team - both in October - before being injured and missing the rest of the season. I don't know what his injury was, because I can't read Italian (although I do know that coglioni = bollocks), but the fact that he was sent overseas for a year and yet missed almost all of the year due to injury would imply that a second year abroad is on the cards.

- Walter Sharpe: Sharpe barely played for the Pistons last year, totalling 20 minutes, yet spent hardly any time in the D-League. When he did finally play in 4 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, he kind of sucked, averaging only 10.8 points and 3.5 rebounds. The Pistons drafted three small forwards last year, which also can't bode well for Sharpe's chances. But his guaranteed contract for next year might be his saviour.

- Dajuan Summers: Pistons GM Joe Dumars almost picked Summers at 15, and was happily surprised when Summers fell to their second pick at #35. Not sure why, though, since the only thing the guy can do is shoot. It's nice to be athletic and strong, like he is, but if you can't/won't penetrate (giggidy), and if you can't/won't play defense, then that's worth a whole lot. Still, Summers has potential, and should make the roster.

- Clay Tucker: Tucker was on the Cavaliers team last year, where he was so keen to demonstrate his scoring ability that he didn't make one single pass. He started last year with BC Kyiv, but left when the team released all of its foreign players due to bankruptcy. He then closed out the year in Spain, where he averaged 17.5 points per game for Cajasol Sevilla. Despite now being 29 and having had several goes at it, Tucker has still never gotten an NBA contract, and this time might not work out either.

- Deron Washington: Washington, supposedly, has a guaranteed contract lined up for next season, which isn't something I'm prepared to believe right now. If he does, though, then that'll be something of a surprise. Washington played in Israel last year, averaging 14.1 points and 7.0 rebounds for Hapoel Holon, but he still can't shoot well, and, given their recent draft which I've kind of overrelied on lately, you can see how Detroit may have had other options at the small forward spot. And Arron Afflalo's presence negates any spot minutes that Washington might have gotten as a big two guard. And that's why I don't really believe it. But I'll report it if it happens.

Summer signings, round 7

- In round 3, I set your collective minds at ease about the whereabouts of shaven headed corner lingerer, Jumaine Jones. I told you that he had signed in Italy. But apparently that's not the end of the matter. In a rather unique tale, Jumaine's two agents appear to have simultaneously agreed to two seperate contracts with two different teams in two different countries. Jones has seemingly agreed to sign with both Milano in Italy and with a team called Ural Great Perm in Russia. (Great name. A great name. Great perm, too.) I don't think there's any precedent for knowing quite what happens in situations such as this, so it's FIBA's problem now. Good stuff, though.

- On the off-chance that you can remember who Rashad Wright is - a Pacers secound rounder from 2004 who never made the NBA - then you'll be horny when you hear that he has signed with ALBA Berlin in Germany, after last played for Efes Pfilsen in Turkey. For those unaware....that's a backwards step. (No offense to ALBA Berlin fans. But it is. You know?)

- In news that I know will excite at least one reader of this website, former humoursly bad NBA player Reece Gaines has signed for Angelico Biella in Italy. I don't know who she is, but she sounds hot. I made that joke once before, and I shall continue to use it every time the name Angelico Biella crops up, because I'm unoriginal like that. (If you've never received a "hey, do you know what's happened to Reece Gaines?" email in your life, then you're missing out. Ask nicely and I'll write you one. Maybe.)

- Loukas Mavrokefalidis remains in Greece, going from Olympiakos to Maroussi Costa Coffee, where he'll join none other than Andreas Glyniadakis. Try spelling that frontcourt while shitfaced on Mescaline. Can't be done.

- Jorge Garbajosa did indeed sign with Khimky, as thread in a previous blog post. I guess the leg's better now, eh?

- Just In Cage has signed with Belgacom Liege in Belgium (or, specifically, in Liege in Belgium). This news may interest you if you are a Bulls fan - Cage played mediocrely for the Bulls summer league team last season, but was invited to training camp anyway, where he didn't last for very long. However, at some point between the two events, David Thorpe (who was working with Cage in some capacity) wrote a glowing commendation of Cage's hero-like basketball abilities. Certain Bulls fans bought into that, and began planning the franchise's entire direction around the formidable Justin "Magical" Cage. So news of hsi signing in the Belgian league will piss on those people's chips.

- Another Bulls summer league and former Spur, Keith Langford, is on the cusp of signing for Bologna in Italy. That's all I have to say about that. And now onto news about actual NBA players.

- The Spurs re-signed Kurt Thomas, and also signed Creighton's finest Anthony Tolliver. It has to be said that, while everyone's talking about the potential juicy goodness of the 2010 free agency class, no one has talked about the Spurs's potential impact on it. They do, after all, have only two players under contract that summer, and even though Manu Ginobili will be a free agent that summer, the Spurs have enough room to give him an extension and still be able to throw an arseload of cheese at a big name player. They'll have only the merest bare bones of a squad, but an aging foursome of Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and, say, Dirk Nowitzki....well, you'd have to respect that, even if the other 9 players are on minimum salary contracts. Which they'd probably have to be. (Note: given the way things work in the NBA, this scenario will prove to impossible within next to no time. Either Dirk will sign an extension, the salary cap won't increase as expected, or the Spurs will spend money on multiple lesser players. Or the franchise will fold. Or all four of those things. This is why I don't make predictions any more - they suck and are hard. Giggidy.)

- Sebastian Telfair re-signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, after a 'breakout' season in which he shot 40%.

- The Detroit Pistons are to sign Will Bynum, which could be amusing if Lindsey Hunter sticks around for another season. Imagine looking down that bench for a point guard who can hit a jumpshot. Good luck.

- Ricky Davis is the latest reasonably big name NBA player to be offered a disproportionally huge amount of money from Greek club Olympiakos as a replacement for Loukas Mavrokefalidis...........

- .....And Josh Childress did go to Olympiakos after all. Good on you, sir.

Summer signings, round 2

- Former Detroit Pistons guard Alex Acker has left European powerhouse Barcelona, after a poor season last year. He's also been replaced by Juan Carlos Navarro, whom we'll probably never see in the NBA again, for an entirely different reason to that of Acker. Detroit still owns Acker's rights, but they're looking increasingly worthless. (Detroit, Acker, and his rights.)

- Atlanta Hawks draftee, Australian centre David Andersen, is also joining Barcelona on a three year deal. Andersen, whose combination of height, broken legs and athleticism was enough to rigidify Hawks fans for at least two years, will also probably never join the NBA. But that doesn't mean that he isn't any good.

- Derrick Zimmerman has signed with the ever-elusive geniuses of Budivelnik Kiev in the Ukraine, where he may soon be joined by Anthony Morrow, who has agreed to terms to join the team. However, Morrow's agreement is conditional - if he makes an NBA roster, he'll do that instead. (Morrow is on two summer league rosters this year, so he's giving it a go.) Zimmerman clearly had no such clause, so at least one of the two realises the futility of such a situation.

- Indiana Pacers draft pick Erazem Lorbek has signed with CSKA Moscow, essentially as the replacement for David Andersen above.

- James Singleton has left Tau Ceramica in Spain to try and come back to the NBA. We wait with baited breath. (EDIT: I wrote this a long time before posting it - Singleton has since signed with the Dallas Mavericks. It's a good signing. Singleton should never have left the NBA. He's good enough to be a 10th or 11th man in it. However, Dallas also signed Keith McLeod, and Keith McLeod is complete wank. So it's swings and roundabouts.)

- Milt Fellatio has signed with Khimky (not Kinky) in Russia. A report on the subject says that "Khimky wants to win ULEB Cup this year", which gives them a clear advantage over those ULEB Cup teams who don't want to win it. Good plan.

- New-found Montengran citizen Omar Cook has signed for Unicja in Spain ona two year contract. Cook played very well for Red Star Belgrade last year, and Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles likes him a lot. Yet apparently, that's not getting it done for Omar, who still doesn't get a return to the NBA. Cook also played at the Boston Celtics free agent camp this month, alongside a "who's who?" of nobodys including Randolph Morris, Eddie Basden, Alan Anderson, Bobby Brown, RYVON! Covile, David Noel, Lawrence Roberts, Mustafa Shakur and someone called Brian Butch. But seemingly this didn't result in a potential roster spot for Omar. (Cook has also started playing for the Montenegran National Team, for those who previously missed this exciting news.)

- Robert Archibald turned down a two year contract from the New Orleans Hornets to go and play alongside Cook for Unicaja Malaga, which seems rare and strange. According to this, it is because of the lure of guaranteed money, more than the lure of Omar Cook. But then again, that link describes Archibald's NBA reputation as "rock solid", so.......yeah.

- Sasha Kaun, drafted in the second round this year and sold to the Cleveland Cavaliers, has signed with CSKA Moscow, along with Erazem Lorbek mentioned above, as well as former Magic and Rockets forward Terence Morris. David Andersen is sitting somewhere in Spain, regretting leaving such a stacked team. Probably. Well, maybe.

- Will Bynum is to earn $800,000 this season playing for Virtus Bologna in Italy, assuming that he doesn't make the Detroit Pistons roster.

- Former Net Zoran Planinic, just like basically everybody else in this post, has signed for CSKA Moscow, which is in Moscow. Does David Andersen regret it now? Does he fuck.

Where Are They Now? Part 7

Derrick Byars is playing for Chorale de Roanne of the French league. He has also recently changed agents, which is something that was brought to my attention via email by a Mr (or Mrs) B.D. Byars. So thank you, whoever you are. And if you have any idea how much guaranteed money Derrick got to go to training camp with Philadelphia last year, and wish to share that with me too, that'd be good.

Will Bynum is playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, where he was recently arrested and charged with a hit and run. Even more recently (Sunday), he was acquitted, after the judge ruled that his actions were the only reasonable ones that he could have taken in order to get away from the situation (Bynum and his car were being pelted by rocks by a large group of people who obviously didn't like him very much, and Bynum clipped one while speeding away). Strange times. Even stranger, none of the people doing the rock throwing got charged either.

Rashid Byrd, one of the greatest all time Random Training Camp Signings Of Seven Footers Who Happen To Play In A Gym Next To An NBA Team And Who Get Signed To Keep The Numbers Up, has gone back to the oblivion from whence he came. He is playing for the mighty OC Gladiators of the ABA.

Zarko Cabarkapa has not played professionally since leaving Golden State. Whether this is due to apathy or injury, I could not say. But if I remember rightly, he had a problematic back complaint. So maybe it's that.

Justin Cage is playing for the Colorado 14ers in the D-League, and still isn't as good as his agent says he is. (What, by the way, is a 14er?)

Elden Campbell is long since retired, and was recently honoured as a "Clemson Legend".

Marcus Campbell is playing for Avellino in Italy after transferring from The Arse just this week.

Nik Caner-Medley is playing for Gran Canaria in Spain.

Jason Capel has quit playing professional basketball and is now a colour commentator. He's only 28, but apparently doctors told him to "shut it down". This story has movie potential. (That is to say, it has crap movie potential.)

Geno Carlisle's world tour of everywhere continues, and he is currently playing for Karisyaka in Turkey.

Bimbo Carmona is playing for Carolina in his native Puerto Rico, and still isn't someone that you've heard of. (Dammit, you should pour over summer league and training camp rosters some time. I do this often. Great fun. So many nobodies.)

Pat Carroll is playing for Alicante in Spain, and is also still entirely comparable to his brother Matt in every way. Except Matt has six years of guaranteed salary coming to him, and Pat is playing in Spain throwing lob passes to Martynas Andriuskevicius.