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AP PhotoWill Bynum turned down more lucrative offers overseas to sign with the Pistons.

AUBURN HILLS -- Will Bynum walked away from lucrative offers overseas for a shot at making the Detroit Pistons squad as their No. 3 point guard.

Bynum's gamble has paid off now that he has agreed to a multi-year deal with Detroit.

"It's pretty much a done deal now," Bynum said.

AP PhotoDevean George is one of the few remaining free agents that could fill Detroit's need for a backup small forward.

AUBURN HILLS -- With most of the "big-name" free agent small forwards off the board, the Detroit Pistons' chances of landing a player that can help them at the 3-spot via free agency seems slim.

But there's one player that's available, who just might be a nice fit.

That player is Devean George.

An NBA source has confirmed with WDFN's Matt Dery that the Pistons are close to a deal with draft pick Walter Sharpe.

July 21, WDFN.com: A League source tells WDFN's Matt Dery that the Pistons close to signing second round pick Walter Sharpe to a two year contract. Sharpe was the team's first of three second round picks out of UAB. Also, WDFN has learned that the Pistons have offered Will Bynum a one year deal to be their third point guard. Bynm played very well for the Pistons summer league team in Las Vegas.

AP File PhotoTrent Plaisted, right, was an inconsistent scorer at BYU.

AUBURN HILLS -- Trent Plaisted was one of two second-round picks by Detroit last month (Deron Washington was the other) that the Pistons anticipate playing overseas for a season or two.

It's too soon to tell whether that plan might change for the 21-year-old, who has been one of Detroit's most consistent players thus far in summer league.

After Detroit's first two summer league games -- both Pistons wins -- Plaisted averaged six points and 4.5 rebounds.

AP PhotoWith improvements to his shooting, Detroit Pistons guard Arron Afflalo should be doing more than dunking in his second season.

AUBURN HILLS -- As a rookie last season, there were games when Arron Afflalo would come off the bench and play well, only to be followed by nights when he wouldn't get on the court long enough to break a sweat.

He readily admits that it was frustrating to do exactly what the Pistons coaches asked of him, and still not be rewarded with a consistent role.

Rather than grumble about it, he continued to work on his game. He spent countless hours at the Pistons' practice facility refining his shooting touch and worked on displaying more athleticism, two things many thought were weak points to his game.

AP PhotoDetroit Pistons point guard Rodney Stuckey looks to improve his leadership by playing in the NBA Summer League.

LAS VEGAS -- Surrounded by a slew of teammates hoping to land a spot somewhere at the end of the Detroit Pistons' bench, there's not a lot for Rodney Stuckey to gain out of being in summer league.

But if you look at the way he corrects teammates when they're not where they're supposed to be, the way encourages players to try things that might not be according to script, the way he barks instructions -- and the way they respond -- it's clear that he came to Las Vegas looking to hone his leadership skills.

"That's one of the main reasons why I'm doing summer league this year," said Stuckey, who played sparingly in Detroit's 75-66 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. "That's one of the main things I need to work on, because I know next year, I'm going to have a bigger role than I had this past year."

AP File PhotoWill Bynum helped Georgia Tech make the Final Four in 2004 and now hopes to come off the Detroit Pistons' bench next season.

LAS VEGAS -- Will Bynum thought someone was playing a joke on him, one that he didn't think was the least bit funny.

A text message was left on his cell phone -- from Pistons president Joe Dumars.

"Joe Dumars, a Hall of Famer, was calling me? I couldn't believe it," Bynum said.

The Oakland Tribune is reporting that talks between Joe Dumars and Chris Mullins are still going on, the Warriors still want Billups but the Pistons want other players instead of Al Harrington.

July 12, Oakland Tribune: Chris Mullin may not believe his own rhetoric about Ellis. The buzz in Detroit is that the Warriors and Pistons have been talking about a deal involving point guard Chauncey Billups. The Pistons want Andris Biedrins, the Warriors are offering up Al Harrington. Harrington by all means. But Biedrins? No way.

Billups has been mentioned in a number of trade scenarios this offseason -- for Tracy McGrady, for Carmelo Anthony, for a possible lottery pick -- so a fresh one to the Warriors is certainly plausible. Hard to see Billups in a running style, though, and he will be 32 in September. That said, he would be much preferable to Ellis at the point, and a significant recoup, at least temporarily, for the loss of Davis.

With the continued performance and improvement of Rodney Stuckey, and all the rumors seeming to center around Chauncey, it's looking that Billups may be the player Dumars moves this summer.

Stay tuned.....

{Thanks to Robbie of Spring Arbor for the heads up on this information}

LAS VEGAS -- If you would have asked Walter Sharpe a year ago where he would be now, playing in his first NBA game would not have been his answer.

But there he was Friday, stepping onto the floor as a starter for the Detroit Pistons' summer league team.

"I'm still kind of getting used to it," Sharpe said.

LAS VEGAS -- I just left the Detroit Pistons' morning shootaround a little while ago.

A lot of guys looked pretty good, but Walter Sharpe stood out. He has an extremely smooth mid-range jumper, but it's too soon to tell what that'll translate into tonight's game, let alone this season.

Still, based on what I saw this morning, Sharpe was definitely worth a second round pick based on his potential.