Scratch that.

The Pistons snagged free agent Jarvis Hayes, a four-year veteran whose career has been spent with Washington since the Wizards made him the 10th pick in the 2003 draft, and announced his signing on Thursday.

Hayes immediately slides into the role as Prince’s primary backup at small forward, a spot vacated by the June trade of Carlos Delfino to Toronto for two second-round draft choices.

“We are pleased to add Jarvis Hayes to our roster,” Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement. “Jarvis has proven himself as a solid NBA player over the last four seasons and we like the flexibility and depth he will bring to our team at the small forward position.”

Hayes is a more consistent outside shooter than Delfino and, at 6-foot-8, is bigger. He got squeezed out in Washington when the Wizards, already heavily invested in their perimeter with Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and No. 1 pick Nick Young, chose not to extend a qualifying offer to Hayes, who was scheduled to be a restricted free agent.

Dumars and vice president John Hammond had indicated during the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League that they would be comfortable with a combination of players – including veteran Ronald Dupree and rookies Arron Afflalo and Sammy Mejia – to back up Prince, feeling they could offer similar production to Delfino. But when the opportunity to add Hayes to a no-risk contract presented itself, the front office acted swiftly.

Hayes has run into some injury misfortune during his NBA career, including a fractured right kneecap. But he played in 81 games last season, averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game.

According to Hammond, Hayes has spent the bulk of his summer in Los Angeles working on both his game and his conditioning and is eager to prove his worth to a contending team to re-establish his value for next summer’s round of free agency.

When Delfino became the primary backup to both Prince and Rip Hamilton last season, it often resulted in Prince playing 40-plus minutes a game. Dumars said after the playoffs that it was his off-season goal to shape the roster in such a way that the Pistons’ core veterans would not have to supply as many minutes next season. Hayes, it would appear, provides them the luxury of giving Prince more certain rest for the 2007-08 season.

Though no contract terms were announced, it is highly likely the deal is for just one season as it suits the needs of both team and player.