AUBURN HILLS -- It's been a long day for Pistons newcomer Tobias Harris.

He was up at 4 a.m. after attending long-scheduled speaking engagement in Florida last night, on a flight out of Orlando at 6, and at the team's practice facility in suburban Detroit three hours later for physical and introductions.

Eighteen hours earlier, the news of Detroit's acquisition -- the 6-foot-9 forward for Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings -- trickled to his cell phone.

"I was actually at home taking a nap," Harris said. "My GM, my father called me a couple times, my agent. I had heard a little bit of rumblings earlier on in the day when I was working out and didn't pay too much attention to it. But once I heard from the GM that it was official, that's when I said, 'Well, OK.' "

Harris figures to fit in the Pistons' starting lineup at the small and power forward positions, depending on who Detroit is playing and how it matches up.

RELATED: He could also touch off other changes to starting five

He averaged 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in a pseudo role this season in Orlando, but his scoring production and shot attempts were down compared to previous seasons under first-year coach Scott Skiles.

"I feel like the team and the direction they're going in with coach Van Gundy, the talent and nucleus here, I think it's really a perfect fit," Harris said. "Most of the times, when you get traded to in those types of situations, some players don't get into as good a fit, but I think it's a very good fit for myself and the team."

Stan Van Gundy said Wednesday Harris' role will be evolving, from playing the power forward with Marcus Morris or Stanley Johnson to the small forward spot with Anthony Tolliver on the floor, and could create some changes for the Pistons defensively.

Harris was a known target for Detroit in offseason free agency last year, and like Bower admitted Tuesday, was surprised Orlando decided to switch gears on the fifth-year player after signing him to a four-year, $64 million extension.

"This business and this NBA now, this isn't a patient business," Harris said. "Any time a team -- like we did over there -- loses some games, it's their decision to make a shakeup. It just so happened to be me. It could have been any guy."

His admiration for Van Gundy is apparent. He complimented the long-time NBA coach more than once during his introductory news conference, recalled an instance in which he met him during an AAU tournament in Orlando and had a retort for the Pistons' coach and president of basketball operations when he told Harris what he expected of him.

"I told him all I wanted to do was win and that I'm a winner and I'm going to do whatever you ask of me," Harris said.

His addition is expected to make the Pistons a playoff contender for the first time in seven seasons in the bunched Eastern Conference, where they stand 27-27 ahead of a Friday night game in Washington (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Harris, who will wear the No. 34 jersey, was quoted by ESPN's Chris Broussard, who reported the trade, on Tuesday as saying he was ready to make the playoffs.

Now, after a physical completed and his first practice coming Thursday, he's ready to get down to business.

"I would hope that I'm here for the team to make that push," Harris said. "We're only a half a game behind, pretty decent schedule coming up. I think any team's goal is to make the playoffs and it's been my goal since I've gotten in the NBA.

"That's the first thing I thought about, 'Let's make the playoffs.' We have the talent here and the ability to do it. Every single game I'm going to give my heart out to reach that goal."

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