Chris Nelsen

Special to the Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond can now experience the full pleasures of a properly functioning nose.

But there are some disadvantages, too.

"Things smell better, things smell worse," Drummond, speaking at Monday's media day at the Palace, said of his off-season surgery to repair a deviated septum, an injury he suffered at Connecticut. He had been breathing through a closed left nostril the past four seasons.

"Having two nostrils is definitely a blessing. Being able to breathe has been great. My workouts have been great. I'm able to sleep better."

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Along with the surgery, Drummond lost about 30 pounds, which he hopes can help him regain All-Star form.

Last year, he averaged 13.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, down from 16.2 points, 14.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks the previous season. His minutes per game also declined from 32.9 to 29.7.

"I feel fantastic," Drummond said. "Right now, I'm at 285. I lost 30-something pounds, ballpark. I'm moving faster, jumping higher. I feel great overall. A lot of conditioning this summer to really get myself in tip-top shape."

Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson believes Drummond will have a big season, as the team transitions to Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit.

"That will definitely help, with his ability to breathe and stay on the court," Jackson said Monday. "Losing that weight, and being able to attack both ends of the court, is going to be tremendous for us. He's our engine. The car can only go as far as your engine takes you.

"When it comes around this league, there's only a few teams blessed to have 'that' guy, (who) can take you to another level. And he's that guy."

Drummond was expected to participate at training camp this week, although coach Stan Van Gundy said he may be limited.

"Andre sprained an ankle last week, Thursday maybe, in a one-on-one thing with Eric Moreland," Van Gundy said. "(Drummond) landed wrong, no major damage. He's planning to go, at least in the morning, in the non-contact practice. Don't know if he'll be available the first couple days we go five-on-five at night."

Breakout Boban: Van Gundy spoke highly of backup center Boban Marjanovic, a 7-foot-3 native of Serbia in his second year with the Pistons. He played one previous NBA season with the Spurs.

Although Marjanovic was not part of last year's rotation, appearing in 35 games and averaging 5.5 points and 3.7 rebounds, his role should be bigger this season.

"Sort of a wild card, and it's incumbent on us to find the best way to use him, but Boban Marjanovic can be one of the most indefensible offensive forces in the game, in the time he's on the floor," Van Gundy said.

"If you watched the European championships (this summer), and he was playing against NBA guys, big NBA guys, (Kristaps) Porzingis and (Timofey) Mozgov, guys like that. He's tough to guard. We've got to take advantage of that."

Marjanovic is looking forward to a larger role with the Pistons.

"I'm excited, really," he said. "When you start to play basketball, you dream about that. This is my dream."

Bradley fitting in: Pistons guard Avery Bradley, who was acquired in an off-season trade from Boston, has been happy with the team's early chemistry.

"It's been good," he said. "We have a great group of guys. Anything is possible. We're all able to buy into what Stan's trying to do. He's a really passionate person, and he's going to prepare us every single game."

Jackson is happy to play alongside Bradley — not against him. The former Celtic has consistently been a top defender and two-way player in the league.

"To be lining up against him every day (in practice) is going to make me better, but not having to play against him, when the lights are on and the fans are watching, I'm loving it," Jackson said of his new backcourt mate. "He's going to be an S.O.B. for everybody else in the league."

Injury update: Van Gundy said combo guard Langston Galloway will be monitored at the beginning camp because of a knee bruise.