Peyton Siva active tonight against Nets

Detroit Pistons rookie point guard Peyton Siva is expected to get his first bit of NBA playing time tonight in preseason action against the Brooklyn Nets. Siva, who had been bothered with a calf strain since before training camp began, was able to participate fully in practice yesterday.

The news couldn't come soon enough for the Pistons, who played Thursday against the Heat with just one healthy point guard. That guard was Will Bynum, who went from on the guard rotation bubble to starting and playing 46 minutes against the Heat.

In the end, Bynum 28 points, six assists and seven turnovers. In the second half he was clearly gassed and got progressively more careless with the ball so any help in the back court will probably be greatly appreciated.

Like Bynum, Siva has had something to prove ever since declaring for the NBA draft. Despite leading his Louisville Cardinal team to a national championship, Siva went unselected until pick no. 56. And even after being drafted by the Pistons, his spot on the roster was not secure. He spent his initial months on the team as the 16th man on a squad with 15 guaranteed contracts.

That didn't stop him from working hard, and eventually he opened eyes in the Orlando Summer League. Siva was dynamic with the ball in his hands and was a calming floor general who knew how to control the pace of the game and find open teammates.

Since then, Pistons fans had hoped that the team would find room for him on its roster and sure enough the team did just that when it sent Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton and Slava Kravtsov to the Milwaukee Bucks in return for Brandon Jennings.

Hopefully some of that off-court chemistry he has developed with Andre Drummond carries over onto the court tonight in Brooklyn.