Pistons’ SVG respects Granger but hasn’t made decision

With the most pressing issues of the Detroit Pistons’ off-season in the rearview mirror, the organization can turn its attention to other matters.

Near the top of the list is the status of forward Danny Granger, who was acquired from the Phoenix Suns in the trade that also brought in Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock.

Morris is expected to be the starting small forward. Bullock appears to be in the discussion for a roster spot. But the Pistons don’t know the path for Granger, who has battled health issues since reaching the All-Star Game in 2009. He remains a strong candidate to be released, but Granger, 32, isn’t considering retirement.

He has one year left on his contract, for $2.1 million.

“You know, we haven’t,” Pistons president/coach Stan Van Gundy said Monday, when asked whether a decision had been made on Granger. “But we are in the process.”

Van Gundy made his comment after the news conference to officially announce the signing of point guard Reggie Jackson. Jackson’s agent, Aaron Mintz, also represents Granger, and he was in town for the signing and also discussed Granger’s situation with the team.

Granger once was of the most feared scorers in the NBA, averaging 25.8 points per game in his All-Star season with the Indiana Pacers. But he has played in only 76 games the last three seasons because of various injuries.

You can make a case for the Pistons to at least bring Granger to camp. The team is very young, and the locker room could use the steadying influence of a 10-year veteran.

But can his body withstand a Van Gundy training camp?

“I have a lot of respect for Danny,” Van Gundy said. “We had to play them a lot, obviously, when he was in Indiana. I have a lot of respect for him as a player and a professional. I think we need to see where he is physically and where he is mentally, in terms of what he wants to do. And we’ll go from there and try to make the best decision for our organization and for him.”

Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56 .