Three things to watch in Detroit Pistons summer league opener
Detroit Pistons: A lot of key players have something to prove
Pistons general manager Troy Weaver has said most of the improvement of the team this off-season, will be internal.
Usually NBA starters sit out summer league because, well, why wouldn’t they? However, due to their youth, and the fact they need to work on their game, some Pistons who should be in the rotation when the regular season begins, will be in action in Las Vegas.
Killian Hayes, who was the starting point guard for Detroit (when he was healthy) last season will be there. Saddiq Bey, a first team All-Rookie selection who played with the USA Select team (and temporarily with the future gold-medal winning Team USA) is also going to play.
Isaiah Stewart is not expected to see action due to an ankle injury, but one never knows.
Related Story. Detroit Pistons: Sekou Doumbouya asks “What’s next for me?. light
Sekou Doumbouya was a first-round draft pick two years ago, and he was not a late-rounder either, No. 15 overall. He was expected to be a project due to his youth. Now, with the people who drafted him no longer in control, the project is coming due.
Doumbouya was on the fringes of the Pistons rotation last year. He had some good games but there were also times when he was on the bench.
This will be a big year for the longest-tenured Piston (yes, there have been a lot of changes).
First of all, Doumbouya needs to look impressive in summer league, he is facing less than NBA competition after all. If Doumbouya can stand out, it might help him be part of the Pistons future plans.
Finally, among the returnees, Saben Lee arrives fresh off signing a three-year contract with Detroit. At the end of last season, Lee had some impressive games. He took over the point at times and Hayes moved to the shooting guard spot, and they played well together.
The reason the super-athletic Lee was around for the Pistons to draft in the second round last year was his poor outside shooting. He worked hard during the season on his shot, and it did improve.
If Lee can show against the Thunder he can be at least an average three-point shooter, he would increase his value to the team greatly.