Kim Klement-USA Today Sports
On Tuesday afternoon, reports indicated that the Detroit Pistons have made the decision to sign Italian forward, Luigi Datome.
For those who may not recognize the name, your initial reaction may simply be — who? But for Pistons’ fans, this could be a solid addition for a Detroit organization that has made some quality moves thus far this off-season. Datome spent this past season with Virtus Roma in Italy and was actually tabbed as the league’s MVP after averaging 16.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this past season.
Datome stands at 6-foot-9, but he can stretch the floor and pay an all-around game on the offensive end. Datome shot 47% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc with Virtus Roma during his MVP campaign, while also converting on 92% on his shots from the free throw line. He’s not a recognizable name and he is 25 years old already, but in all, Datome could certainly be a solid contributor off the bench next season for Detroit.
The Pistons, who can’t announce free agent signings until July 10, have already agreed in principle to sign Will Bynum in the back court, while Josh Smith headlines their biggest addition of the summer so far. The team drafted Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the first round of the NBA Draft. The intangibles and missing pieces that Detroit has addressed thus far has inched them even closer to competing for a playoff spot in 2014 and they may very well have the talent to qualify when we reach that point next spring.
Datome will be a name that Pistons’ fans will want to keep track of moving forward, as he could be a solid, under-the-radar addition when all is said and done.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
