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Second round pick Michael Gbinje to miss rest of Summer League

By David Hughes

Mar 20, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Michael Gbinije (0) brings the ball up court during the first half of the second round against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Michael Gbinije (0) brings the ball up court during the first half of the second round against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a promising Summer League debut on Saturday vs. the New York Knicks, it was announced today that second round pick Michael Gbinje will miss the rest of the Orlando Summer League with a sprained ankle.

Michael Gbinje, who the team is currently looking at as a potential third point guard, had 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in Saturday’s 81-49 win over the New York Knicks’ Summer League squad.

The injury is the second blow for the Pistons in Orlando, as shooting guard Darrun Hilliard first went down with a stress fracture in his lower back. The Pistons were hoping to get a good look at both in Orlando in trying to determine where they stood in terms of backcourt depth heading out of free agency.

It’s a minor injury, as Gbinje is expected to miss just two weeks, but it’s enough to bring his time on the Summer League squad to a halt.

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For the Pistons, as they still search for a potential third point guard, current Summer League team members Lorenzo Brown and Phil Pressey should see increased opportunity to try and make a case for themselves. Brown had 8 points on 60 percent shooting on Saturday while Pressey chipped in 8 points, had an impressive 10 rebounds, and was 2-of-4 from deep.

The Pistons also have the option of trying to find a veteran point guard in what’s left of the free agents, but the expectation as of now is that they’ll give Gbinje every opportunity to lock down the job. His ability to hit the three-pointer and size at 6-foot-7 has the Pistons staff excited, and he certainly showed enough in his lone Summer League game to believe that excitement is warranted.

Here he is in the third quarter vs. the Knicks, knocking down a triple when just a little space is given to him by former Piston DaJuan Summers.

Gbinje’s injury is certainly a disappointment for the Pistons fans who were looking forward to getting their first look at the rookie out of Syracuse, but this should be just a minor setback for the young guard.

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