Pistons Sign Luigi Datome

[RipCity32]

The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a two-year, $3.75 million contract with Italian League MVP Luigi Datome, according to multiple reports.

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward posted on his Facebook page earlier Tuesday that he was leaving the Italian League to join the Pistons, according to the reports.

Datome, 25, averaged 16.6 points and 5.8 rebounds for Virtus Roma last season, shooting 47 percent from the field (41 percent on 3-point attempts) and 92 percent from the free throw line.

The Pistons can't announce contract agreements with free agents until Wednesday, when the league moritorium on signings is lifted. According to sources, the Pistons had agreed to deals with forward Josh Smith and guard Will Bynum in addition to the reported addition of Datome.

Pretty happy with this. So pumped that we have an Italian on the team now

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Yall need to make a move for Chalmers.

 

[RipCity32]

That would be pretty cool hah.

 

[uwp]

was hoping the celtics were going to sign him (they were apparently frontrunners not too long ago). good signing by the pistons, guy plays his guts out like every other european not named bargnani

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

Not Chalmers.......................

 

[RipCity32]

I'm italian (sorry for my english) living in Rome and Luigi played for the Virtus Roma til today.
I'm very happy for Luigi and for the chance to play in the NBA that the Pistons gave to him. He deserved it.

If you need a backup SF Luigi Datome is simply perfect: great athlete, good shooter, great defender, captain and leader of his team that Gigi literally carried to the Italian finals without having a playoffs roster. Last seasons italian's league MVP he is a clever guy, very coachable and perfect teammate.

I played basketball in Italy till I was 36 and I was an assistant coach of Ettore Messina for 2 years. I saw Luigi playing so many times.
He was able to devlop his skills working in the gym every single day for hours and hours. I remember to you that a totally unknown (in the USA) Ginobili arrived in the NBA when was 25 years old. Everyone in Europe knew that he was a stud and he was the MVP in Italy just the year before coming to the NBA.

I'm not saying that Datome will reach the Ginbili's level in the NBA and probably Datome needs and deserves a period to adapt himself to the NBA's level and game. He won't be a star but he could be a real contributor for your team. I think he could have a solid NBA career. Probably the most similar to Datome NBA player from a physical and technical point of view is another Italian: Gallinari, who remains an overall better player. Datome is less good at dribbling, passing and creating for teammates, perhaps is a better shooter and for sure he is a warrior and not a sometimes acting flopper.
Enjoy my captain Gigi Datome!

Write up by a guy on realgm.

 

[Teagz]

#Championship

 

[elcheato]

 

[buzzy]

instant fan favorite with that name