Craig Sword

Keith Langlois

The overriding reason the Pistons pushed for a team camp was to get some work in for players they fully expect to be critical to their future – guys like Luke Kennard, Sekou Doumbouya and Bruce Brown. They last played a competitive game on March 11 and it’s looking like the NBA, based on commissioner Adam Silver’s most recent comments, won’t resume again until 2021.

But the camp, which runs through Oct. 6, is also an opportunity for the five G League players each of the eight franchises excluded from the NBA’s Orlando bubble were allowed to invite to fill out rosters and make scrimmaging a realistic option to catch someone’s eye.

Dwane Casey said last week that he leaned on the advice of Donnie Tyndall, who coached the Drive last season but this summer accepted the job at junior college power Chipola College, to fill the five openings the Pistons were allowed.

They weren’t necessarily the most talented, Casey said, but they came “highly recommended” from Tyndal. “Hard-working guys who’ll come in and make our practices and our bubble competitive.”

Here’s a look at the five players the Pistons invited to participate in their team camp:

Craig Sword

Five G League vets get their shot to open eyes at Detroit Pistons team camp