Pistons' Van Gundy: No guarantee Danny Granger will be released

When the Detroit Pistons acquired veteran swingman Danny Granger along with Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock in a recent trade with the Phoenix Suns, the conventional wisdom was that Granger would be released.

Not necessarily so, said general manager and coach Stan Van Gundy.

"I think that if you look right now - include (Granger), include Adonis Thomas - we got 18 guys, so there'll be some interesting battles," Van Gundy told Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.

The Pistons currently have 13 players expected to be on next season's roster, so that means five will be competing for the final two spots - Granger included. His competition includes Bullock, Cartier Martin, second-round pick Darrun Hilliard, and Thomas, who played in the D-League last season.

"It's trying to sort out exactly what he wants, what we want, where his health is and all that, so that'll take some time to sort through," Van Gundy said of Granger.

The 32-year-old Granger was dealt to the Suns from the Miami Heat in February's Goran Dragic trade, and didn't play a minute for Phoenix. He exercised his player option before being moved to Detroit and is owed $2.1 million next season.

A litany of injuries has derailed the one-time All-Star's career since 2012.