Prince wasn't exactly ecstatic about returning to Pistons

Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said Tayshaun Prince had an interesting reaction upon learning he was returning to Detroit.

While Reggie Jackson was ecstatic, that wasn't exactly the reaction Prince had when he learned the Boston Celtics had sent him to the Pistons on Thursday.

Van Gundy was asked whether there was ever a question of the Pistons buying out Prince so he could go sign with a contender.

With the Pistons needing a small forward after trading Kyle Singler, that wasn't the case.

"That's an interesting situation because I think that was his expectation, quite frankly," Van Gundy said Friday. "That's certainly not why we acquired him. We didn't acquire him with any kind of promise from us that we were going to buy him out. We brought him in here to play and play a lot. I think yesterday when I talked to him, yeah, his head was spinning a little. Things hadn't gone in a direction he expected.

"Reggie was really, really excited. I think Tayshaun was — not unhappy, but he was sort of trying to figure out what the hell happened, and I understand that."

Prince, 34, returns to the team that drafted him in 2002 and where he won a championship in 2004. He was part of a three-team trade in 2012-13 in which he was sent to the Memphis Grizzlies.

On Thursday, he was moved for Jonas Jerebko and Luigi Datome, who were both in contract years.

Prince is also in a contract year.

■ Notable: Jackson and Prince weren't available for Friday night's game against the Bulls. Jackson arrived in time for his physical just before tip-off but wasn't cleared in time to play. He will practice today and start Sunday against the Washington Wizards. Prince, who was with the Celtics in Sacramento, Calif., was allowed to fly back to Boston. He will arrive today and should be available against the Wizards. ... Rookie Spencer Dinwiddie and Caron Butler got starting nods against the Bulls. ... Van Gundy said he expects point guard John Lucas III to be with the team the remainder of the season. His second 10-day contract ends soon. ... Quincy Miller of the Development League is expected to sign a 10-day contract today. Miller and Jackson were seated on the Pistons' bench Friday.

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