LAS VEGAS -- Austin Daye has given his seal of approval on comparisons to Tayshaun Prince. The similarities are obvious. Both are long, underweight players who are matchup nightmares but also give away 50 pounds to opposing forwards. Daye, the 15th overall pick in June's draft, is listed at 6-11 and 190 pounds. You may miss him from a sideways view, but the former Gonzaga standout is a gifted player.He ignored those pundits who believed he should have remained in Spokane for another season and entered the draft. After dropping 19 points and playing the entire 40 minutes of Detroit's 91-87 win over Toronto on Saturday, Daye is confident he can contribute at the highest level, even though he is far from a finished product.
"[The weight concerns] bother me a little bit but I've known about it for a long time and tried to dedicate myself to it," he said. "They say it affects a lot of players, but if you look at a lot of players today they're not really struggling. I think it's to my advantage sometimes."
The Pistons plan on connecting Daye and Prince before training camp begins. Prince has developed into a standout player despite his slight frame. He uses his length to pester opponents and has turned into a solid rebounder. The 6-foot-9 Prince is listed at 215 pounds.
"Tayshaun, first and foremost is going to teach [Daye] how to be a pro," Pistons assistant coach Darrell Walker said. "I think that's the most important thing. Basketball-wise, I think he has a very good basketball IQ, skill level. Defensively of course, he's going to have to get better but I think that's like most rookies in the league. They are about the same speed. Tayshaun may be [slightly] faster ... but this kid [Daye] is 6-11."
Daye, who said he hasn't talked to Prince since being drafted, welcomes the comparisons.
"I am definitely going to talk to him when he gets back," Daye said. "I love to be compared to him. He's a great player."
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LAS VEGAS - JULY 11: DeJuan Summers #35 of the Detroit Pistons shoots a free throw against the Toronto Raptors during NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on July 11, 2009 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Austin Daye;DeMar DeRozan
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LAS VEGAS - JULY 11: Sean Singletary #6 of the Detroit Pistons goes to the basket against Patrick O'Bryant #13 of the Toronto Raptors during NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on July 11, 2009 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sean Singletary;Patrick O'Bryant
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LAS VEGAS - JULY 10: Head coach Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks talks on the phone during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on July 10, 2009 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick Carlisle
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LAS VEGAS - JULY 10: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban talks with president and general manager Bryan Colangelo of the Toronto Raptors during NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on July 10, 2009 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Cuban;Bryan Colangelo
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Joe Dumars, president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, foreground, and new head coach John Kuester spoke at a press conference, on Thursday, July 9, 2009, in Detroit, Michigan. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
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Detroit Pistons new head coach John Kuester spoke at a press conference, on Thursday, July 9, 2009, in Detroit, Michigan. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
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Detroit Pistons new head coach John Kuester spoke at a press conference, on Thursday, July 9, 2009, in Detroit, Michigan. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
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Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James rides a bicycle to a morning session at the annual Allen & Co.'s media summit in Sun Valley, Idaho, Friday, July 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Rashiyah Wallace, right, sits on the lap of her father, Boston Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace, who was signed as a free agent, during a news conference at the NBA basketball team's training facility in Waltham, Mass., Thursday July 9, 2009. Wallace, a 14-year NBA veteran, averaged 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds with the Detroit Pistons last season. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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WALTHAM - JULY 9: Rasheed Wallace #30 of the Boston Celtics poses with his new jersey and family during a press conference on July 9, 2009 at the Boston Celtics Practice Facility in Waltham, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rasheed Wallace
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