Darrell Walker: Summers "NBA Ready"

Saturday, July 11, 2009
Pistons: Summer league
Pistons assistant Walker: 35th pick Summers 'NBA-ready'
Assistant raves after rookie's performance in summer opener
Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Las Vegas -- Pistons assistant coach Darrell Walker didn't even wait for the questions to get around to rookie forward DaJuan Summers on Saturday.

"Summers is a player," Walker said after Summers had 24 points and seven rebounds to lead the Pistons to an 86-77 victory over Sacramento in their summer league opener. "I don't know how he gets to No. 35 in the draft."

Walker went so far as to tell new coach John Kuester (who is attending Richard Hamilton's wedding) he thought Summers would earn significant playing time next season.

"Look, I never saw him in college and I never saw his workout with us," Walker said. "But he's NBA-ready."

Summers certainly put his skill-set on display. He played both forward positions. He shot 9-for-15. He scored off the dribble. He helped the Pistons break the game open with a 12-point outburst in the third quarter.

He also defended Kings power players (Jason Thompson and Jon Brockman) and smaller players (Donte Green and Marcus Landry) with equal success.

He played like a guy with a chip on his shoulder.

"I always play with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder," Summers said. "Even going back to high school, I thought I should have made the McDonald's (All-American) game. I use that adversity, you know, to keep me going."

As for falling to No. 35 in the draft, Summers isn't sweating that anymore.

"The draft is just one night," he said. "You want to look at your career in the NBA, not just draft night. It was unfortunate for me to go in the second round, from a goal standpoint. But I got to a place I wanted to be at. So, I am still happy."

Slam dunks
Mike Bramos , a former Grosse Pointe North and Miami (Ohio) standout, scored 13 on 5-of-6 shooting and even threw down an eye-popping dunk. Bramos, a shooting guard, knows his odds are slim to stick with the Pistons, but his goals are a little more basic right now.

"I just want to get invited to a training camp," he said.

... The Pistons have had preliminary discussions with the Denver Nuggets about a trade involving guard Arron Afflalo . The Nuggets, who have a trade exception, can afford to take on Afflalo's salary ($1.086 million).

The Pistons would take back a future draft pick, clearing the salary in hopes of landing another frontcourt player. With Brandon Bass going to Orlando, the Pistons still hope to get Boston's Glen Davis .

.. Will Bynum (family issues) will not play on the summer team. The Pistons have replaced him on the roster with rookie Jeremy Pargo from Gonzaga. Michigan State guard Travis Walton has also been added.

... Rookie Austin Daye made the most of his 19 minutes, scoring eight points with two assists and two steals. Fourth overall pick Tyreke Evans had 15 points for the Kings.