“We’re happy to add Cheick Samb as a member of our organization,” said Dumars. “Cheick has intriguing potential and our intention is to bring him along slowly.”

Samb, 22, averaged 9.6 points last season with WTC Cornella of the Spanish League. In 2005-06, he averaged 9.6 points and team highs of 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocks for WTC Cornella in the Spanish LEB2 regular season. He led the league in blocked shots, registering more blocks that the totals of every other team in the league except for one. He averaged 7.0 points and 5.4 rebounds at the just concluded 2007 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (tallied a double-double with 12 points/10 rebounds vs. Memphis) while averaging 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in five games a year ago.

The Senegalese native was drafted by Los Angeles Lakers with the 51st selection in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. His draft rights were acquired by Detroit on draft night in exchange for forward Maurice Evans.