Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons president/coach Stan Van Gundy has typically downplayed the old trope on veteran leadership, but he conceded it might be something the organization needs to consider when making moves this off-season.

But even if the Pistons acquired a great veteran leader, it won’t do much good until the team’s young players become serious about professionalism.

“Yes, we may have to (find a veteran), but some of those guys should be saying that they don’t need a babysitter. ‘I need to do things the right way,’ ” Van Gundy said before Wednesday’s finale at Orlando. “I will say I’m not totally happy with our professionalism and the way we approach things. That’s going to have to change and part of that is going to have to come from us being a little bit stricter and tougher with them on things in our expectations and part of it is going to have from them.”

One of the reasons the Pistons pursued free-agent power forward Al Horford last off-season before he settled on Boston was his leadership.

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As a big man, his presence probably would have helped Andre Drummond.

But Van Gundy made it clear that the responsibility lies with the young players – not a veteran leader.

“You’ve been in the league four or five years — let’s take care of yourself better, let’s be more ready, pay more attention to the game plan, get our extra work in, be more dedicated to the lifting. All those things,” Van Gundy said. “The young part has to go by the wayside as an excuse. You’re a professional and you’re getting paid. If you don’t want that responsibility, don’t come out after one year. If you want to come out after one year, then you decided you wanted to be a pro — be a freaking pro.”

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