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**Brian** · 10-17-2005, 05:59 PM

It looks like the pistons want to keep him with the team for most of the season.

Quote:

When the NBA established its minor-league affiliation with the National Basketball Developmental League this summer, it did so with players such as Pistons forward Amir Johnson in mind.

Here is an 18-year-old, fresh out of high school with raw talent and unlimited potential who most likely won't get much playing time on a successful, veteran-laden team such as the Pistons.

With the minor-league system in place, you would figure the Pistons could send Johnson to their NBDL affiliate in Fayetteville, N.C., and let him get some real on-the-court training.

But it doesn't look like it's going to work that way.

"It's not just that he's a rookie, but he's a high school kid and there's a lot more involved in his first year," said George David, the Pistons' director of scouting, who was one of the first NBA scouts to discover Johnson, a Los Angeles-area high school star. "It's not just about his development on the basketball court. He's 18. We have to make sure we are on top of him on the court and off the court.

"For us to send him away for an extended period of time, we're just not confident that's the right thing to do for him right now."

http://www.detnews.com/2005/pistons/...D04-350942.htm

bananas · 10-17-2005, 06:05 PM

Good news. Condition him with ideal habits for a youngster his age and let him see how the veterans do it all season so he has a good idea of what it takes. Then next year let him tear up the development league.

Starbury03 · 10-17-2005, 06:11 PM

Looks like the NBDL is not gonna be used well and looks like teams arent that found of it neither are the players.

**DetBNyce** · 10-18-2005, 05:28 AM

Makes sense and I think it tells that Johnson is ahead of Acker in terms of making the team. It really comes down to Acker vs. Dupree.

**kamego** · 10-19-2005, 11:49 AM

I think Amir ends up in the NBDL at some point this season. I know we need to have get used to being an adult and all but he also needs to play.

casebeck22 · 10-19-2005, 12:58 PM

He seems very well rounded with a lot of potential from what I have seen. A very moldable player. I look forward to seeing his future.

**kamego** · 10-19-2005, 01:51 PM

He can jump out of the building

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