Detroit Pistons guard Tim Frazier was searching for an opportunity, quickly eyeing the Motor City as a possible destination after bouncing through five different teams in his first five NBA seasons, including two separate stints with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Frazier looked at what head coach Dwane Casey had been able to do to help Fred VanVleet, another undrafted point guard, who was able to fetch a prominent role within the Toronto Raptors' rotation during Casey's time in Canada:
“You saw what he did in Toronto, especially from a guard standpoint,” Frazier told Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. “I think about Fred VanVleet coming in the same way – a little point guard, undrafted, came in, coach Casey gave him the opportunity and he ran with it.”
VanVleet shared many of Frazier's knocks coming out of college — unathletic, undersized and without a clear potent skill to define him.
Yet the Wichita State point man was able to persevere and slowly carve his way into the rotation, earning a spot as Kyle Lowry's primary backup and at times a necessary cog alongside him.
Frazier has notched starts for each of the teams he has played for, but he's now looking for a consistent role, hoping to find that in Detroit. The Penn State product was also fond of the additions the team has made this summer, inking Derrick Rose and Markieff Morris in free agency:
“Markieff is a good friend of mine. I think he’s going to bring another edge of toughness to Detroit basketball,” he said. “They’ve done a tremendous job bringing in Derrick, as well. Derrick is going to go in there and be Derrick. That’s the MVP right there. I’m looking forward to it.”
If it all goes like Frazier hopes, it won't be long before Casey gives him a chance to prove his worth in this upcoming 2019-20 season.
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