Detroit Pistons Summer League Roster

Bigs

Jared Reiner, PF/C, Iowa - I fully expect Jared Reiner to be on an NBA roster next season.

Since coming out of Iowa in 2004, Reiner has frequently been injured while bouncing between the NBA, the D-League and the top overseas' leagues.  This past season he made the Minnesota Timberwolves, but was cut mid-preseason amid controversy and eventually ended up in the D-League with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

The 28-year-old big man averaged a solid 13.1 points and 9.7 rebounds playing alongside Rob Kurz, but left the team "due to personal reasons" - and without explanation. The personal reasons have apparently now been cleared up, though, as he played down in Puerto Rico in May where he again averaged a solid 12.4 points and 10.9 boards (but when an odd 4-of-16 from beyond the arc which isn't something Jared Reiner should be doing).

He's not the sexiest free agent signing a team could pick up in the Summer, but he's a solid veteran that knows how to play basketball.

Jordan Eglseder, C, Northern Iowa - I have a bit of a mancrush on Eglseder and you should too.

Eglseder is a legit 7-foot, 280 pound center that (unlike Omar Samhan) stepped up in the NCAA Tournament against solid competition when he scored 14 points, including two three-pointers, against future lottery pick Cole Aldrich.

Following the Panthers Cinderella run in the March Madness, Eglseder earned All-Tournament honors at the Portsmouth Invitational by averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds against the best seniors in his class.

It's probably a long shot that the 32nd player in Northern Iowa history to score 1,000 points makes an NBA roster next season, but I think he'd be very solid for the Iowa Energy.

Mac Koshwal, PF, DePaul - You would think after putting up 16.1 points and 10.1 boards in the Big East, Koshwal would have been in the NBA Draft conversation.

He wasn't.

The biggest problem with Koshwal is that he's tweener - even though he's got good size for a power forward at 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, he's decided that he'd rather be a small forward.

Koshwal likes to operate out of the high post, but he's not the most adept passer or jump shooter so it isn't exactly a positive.  He has a decent handle, but often would try getting too tricky and then mess something up instead of just keeping it simple.  In the low post, he's got some moves but obviously isn't as comfortable with his back to the basket.

As a great rebounder (3.9 on the offensive end) and a still-developing intriguing skillset, he could look very good in Vegas.  Or he could look really bad if he tries to do as much as he did at DePaul.  Either way, I think he'd do well to play in the D-League (or Europe if he must) this season.

Wings

Elijah Millsap, SF/PF, UAB - Millsap was one of the most intriguing players in the Draft this past season simply because I have to assume almost all of the general managers were scared of making the same mistake they did with his brother, Paul.  Regardless, they treated Elijah like his brother John and decided to overlook him on draft day.  No worries, though, because this means he can maybe lead Mexico in scoring like John did this past season or make all of the NBA look terrible for doing exactly what they were afraid of doing.

Millsap came out of school a season early, but since he'll be 23 before the season starts, it'll probably end up making sense - he wasn't getting any taller.  His skill set is also pretty defined, as he's great on defense and good at slashing to the bucket.

While the lack of a jumper is definitely something he needs to work on (he shot just 24% from beyond the arc this season), the effort he puts forth and the toughness that's apparently in his genes could get him a look on an NBA training camp roster this fall.

Patrick Christopher, SG/SF, California - It seems like the man with two first names peaked two seasons ago, but that doesn't mean he's a bad player - just that he's currently the same player two years ago he was when it looked he'd need to add just a few things to be an NBA player.

The good thing about Christopher is that he's an unconscious shooter - even with a defender in his face, Christopher is unafraid to take (and make) a shot if he thinks it has any chance of going in.  The bad thing about Christopher is that he's an unconscious shooter - even with a defender in his face, Christopher is unafraid to take a shot if he thinks it has any chance of going in.

Defensively, even though he looks athletic, it doesn't really seem to translate for him on that end.  Either that or he needs to put in more of a consistent effort on that end.

I don't think Summer League is a place where Christopher will stand out, but if his shot is falling early - and stays falling - he'll be someone that people start to remember once again.

Guards

A.J. Slaughter, SG/PG, Western Kentucky - I was really intrigued with Slaughter leading up to the draft and was a bit surprised he wasn't selected.

Actually, I didn't watch one Western Kentucky game this past season and therefore rely on DraftExpress.  A smidgeon of their brilliance:

"Despite struggling a bit with his role in his final game here, A.J. Slaughter had a very strong week overall, showing an intriguing skill set and feel for the game. Standing 6'3 with good length and athleticism, Slaughter is a quick but not especially explosive athlete, probably best suited as a combo guard if he ever makes it to the NBA, with point guard not being out of the question at all with some development."

"On the offensive end, Slaughter has a versatile set of skills, being a very good outside shooter both spotting up and pulling up off the dribble, having range to the NBA three-point line. He's very smooth pulling up with the ball in space, doing so frequently out of pick-and-roll situations, while he does a good job of keeping his balance and maintaining good form in these instances. Slaughter does show some problems when he has a hand in his face, however, and is likewise prone to forcing the issue, settling for some ill-advised shots at times."

Not many negatives in there, really - and, as a bonus, he sounds like a Detroit point guard.

Marquez Haynes, PG/SG, UT-Arlington and Edgar Sosa, PG, Louisville - Both will be attempting to show that they can effectively run a team while still stroking it from beyond the arc.  I like Sosa more, but that's only because he's attended Louisville for what seems like 42 years and he just grew on me.