AUBURN HILLS - Second-round picks typically have difficulty getting on the floor as rookies.
But Khyri Thomas has a particular set of skills he hopes will earn him some decent minutes with the Detroit Pistons - defense and 3-point shooting.
The 6-3 combo guard from Creighton is a two-time Big East defensive player of the year. He has a long wingspan (6-10 1/2) and plays physical in one-on-one coverage.
"Defense is important to me, important to the coaches I've played for," Thomas said. "That's the way to get onto the court. My freshman year, that was the only way I started, because of my defense.