Detroit Pistons: 2 players you won’t see for a while

Detroit Pistons: Chris Smith is the great unknown

While Livers at least got most of his senior season in before being felled by injury, Chris Smith only played eight games for UCLA before suffering a torn ACL.

A 6-foot-9, 215-pound guard, Smith would have undoubtedly been drafted, possibly in the first round, with his potential, if he had played a full season with the Bruins. He had gotten off to a good start, averaging 12.6 points and shooting 50-percent on three-pointers before getting hurt.

Since he barely had any type of college season, and could not participate in any workouts, it was not surprising when Smith went undrafted.

Pistons general manager Troy Weaver, who can afford to take some chances, immediately signed Smith to a two-way contract the day after the draft. While Luka Garza, and later Jamorko Pickett, getting the Pistons’ other two-way deal have gotten more attention, Smith was actually offered his contract before either of them.

A two-way is probably the best situation for Smith. That type of contract means Smith is assigned to the Pistons’ G-League team, the Motor City Cruise. However, he can spend as many as 45 days on the Pistons roster during the season.

Considering the severity of the injury, and the need to get back into the flow of playing, Smith would probably start out playing with the Cruise no matter what. With the two-way, there is no pressure to speed up his rehab. No rush needed to join a G-League team.

If Smith does well with the Cruise, he can go up to the Pistons, and see how he is against NBA competition. At the end of the season, when Detroit might be out of playoff contention, you can pretty much count on Smith being up with the big club.

While Livers has at least a target date for returning, nothing has been said officially about Smith. With an ACL injury, depending on the severity, a player can be out from nine-months to almost a year.

Smith suffered his ACL against Utah on December 31, so it is starting to be about the time he can begin working on the court in drills. Again, no hurry since he is mainly assigned to the G-League, but Cruise and Pistons fans surely want to take a look at him, as few know much about Smith’s game.

On a team where there is a lot of attention given to pretty much every player, even those who most likely will sit on the bench, Smith is the last player who is kind of a mystery to Detroit fans .. and maybe even the coaches.

Are Livers or Smith going to become starters? Not this year, but any overall evaluation of the team must include how they may contribute to the team, when they finally are cleared to play.