
DRAFT PICKS:
Austin Daye, F, 6-11, Gonzaga (first round) -- Very versatile offensive player whose lack of strength will be a liability defensively. He'll be an upgrade at the backup small forward spot. DaJuan Summers, F, 6-8, Georgetown (second round) -- The Pistons view him mainly as a small forward, though he played a lot of power forward in college last season. Isn't afraid to mix it up but needs to become a better ball-handler.
Jonas Jerebko, F, 6-9, Sweden (second round) -- The Pistons were impressed with his all-around game and size during a team workout and believe his best position is power forward. Can bull his way onto the roster with a strong summer-league showing.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Walter Herrmann will become unrestricted free agents. McDyess is the only one the Pistons will make an aggressive attempt to resign. Kwame Brown has a player option on his contract but will probably stay put. Will Bynum has a team option on his deal. Given that the option is less than $1 million, the Pistons will accept the bargain.
PLAYER NEWS:
--C Fabricio Oberto was acquired from Milwaukee for forward Amir Johnson two days before the draft but he'll never wear a Pistons uniform. He was secured solely for salary-cap purposes. Oberto has only $1.8 million guaranteed on his contract this season while Johnson is slated to make $3.7 million.
--F Walter Herrmann will not be re-signed and could wind up in Europe. The Pistons did not make a qualifying offer for Herrmann, which turned him into an unrestricted free agent. With the additions of three forwards via the draft, there's no room for Herrmann on the roster.
--G Deron Washington, a 2008 second-rounder, played well in Israel last season and will compete for a roster spot. Washington, a shooting guard who can also slide over to the small forward spot, will play for the Pistons' summer-league team.
"He showed a lot of athleticism last summer and we look forward to watching him this summer and see how he does," said Scott Perry, vice president of basketball operations.
MEDICAL WATCH:
No injuries to report.