The Detroit Pistons haven't played basketball in quite awhile, but the team will be back on the court Friday night when they play host to top draft pick Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team is only playing two preseason games due to the NBA lockout with the second coming next week in Cleveland.
It's difficult to read too much into the NBA preseason considering training camp has only been open for one week, but the game could play an important part for at least one of the team's players. Free agent invitee Damien Wilkens, still working to earn a guaranteed contract from the Pistons, will start at small forward according to the Detroit Free Press.
Camp invitee Damien Wilkins will get the nod at small forward when the Pistons open their two-game preseason schedule against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Pistons coach Lawrence Frank wants to use the brief preseason to experiment with different lineups. Wilkins doesn't have a guaranteed spot on the team, so maybe Frank wants to see him try to guard a starting small forward.
Along with Wilkins, rookies Brandon Knight and Vernon Macklin -- along with fellow invitees Jake Voskuhl, Walker Russell Jr. and Brian Hamilton -- are probably all worth keeping an eye on just in case somebody impresses enough to make the regular season roster.