HoopsHype.com Rumors

Prior to tonight's game with the Atlanta Hawks, Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said he knew nothing about the story but he denied the Pistons pressured Singler, whom the Pistons couldn't speak with during the lockout. “There was no contact,” Frank said. “There was a lockout so we weren't able to talk to him. We're very excited about drafting Kyle. We think he has a great future. But I don't think there was any pressure whatsoever because you're not allowed to contact a guy.” Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Kyle Singler 

Singler was taken by the Detroit Pistons with the No. 33 pick in the draft. He had been playing with Spanish team Lucentum Alicante during the lockout. "I thought here in Spain there was good basketball to be played. There was no rush to go to the NBA and play there," Singler said. "I wanted to come here and play for Madrid, play for a great club and next year have the opportunity to go to the NBA." Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Real Madrid, Kyle Singler 

Singler said the Pistons were eager for him to return. "I haven't talked to them very much but when I decided to stay I know they were a little disappointed," Singler said. "But I wasn't really focused on that. I was making a decision that was best for me." Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Real Madrid, Kyle Singler 

Former Duke forward Kyle Singler is in no rush to start his NBA career, saying Thursday he decided to sign with Real Madrid because of the quality of basketball in Spain. While other NBA players flock back to the United States with the lockout finally over, Singler has opted to stay in Europe to continue his development. Singler was taken by the Detroit Pistons with the No. 33 pick in the draft. He had been playing with Spanish team Lucentum Alicante during the lockout. "I thought here in Spain there was good basketball to be played. There was no rush to go to the NBA and play there," Singler said. "I wanted to come here and play for Madrid, play for a great club and next year have the opportunity to go to the NBA." ESPN.com

Detroit Pistons, Real Madrid, Spain, Kyle Singler 

Moving to the Spanish capital has given Singler the chance to play in the Euroleague, where he debuted Wednesday and scored eight points in 24 minutes in Madrid's 101-83 win over Partizan. Singler said the Pistons were eager for him to return. "I haven't talked to them very much but when I decided to stay I know they were a little disappointed," Singler said. "But I wasn't really focused on that. I was making a decision that was best for me." ESPN.com

Detroit Pistons, Real Madrid, Spain, Kyle Singler 

Seizing an opportunity to add new talent, Real Madrid on Wednesday announced the signing of rookie forward Kyle Singler for the rest of the season. Singler (2.03 meters, 23 years old) arrives from Alicante of the Spanish League. He played nine Spanish League games with Alicante, averaging 15 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals. Singler played previously at Duke University. Euroleague.net

Detroit Pistons, Real Madrid, Spain, Kyle Singler 

Kyle Singler, the 33rd overall pick in the June NBA draft, has reached agreement with Real Madrid and won’t play for the Detroit Pistons this season, agent Greg Lawrence of Wasserman Media Group told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Detroit Pistons, Real Madrid, Spain, Kyle Singler 

“Real Madrid presented a really attractive package that Kyle couldn’t pass up,” Lawrence said. “While playing in Alicante, Kyle fell in love with Spain, but he’s also looking forward to career in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons.” Yahoo! Sports

Detroit Pistons, Real Madrid, Spain, Kyle Singler 

Kyle Singler, the 33rd overall pick in the June NBA draft, is nearing an agreement with Real Madrid and won’t play for the Detroit Pistons this season, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Singler, a forward out of Duke, will sign a contract for the remainder of the season in the Spanish ACB League, replacing the Dallas Mavericks’ Rudy Fernandez(notes) on the Real Madrid roster. Yahoo! Sports

Detroit Pistons, Free Agency, Real Madrid, Spain, Kyle Singler 

Vincent Goodwill: As for the Kyle Singler situation, the Pistons can't have contact with Singler, his agent or anyone close so they're monitoring it like us Twitter

Detroit Pistons, Free Agency, Real Madrid, Spain, Kyle Singler 

JJ Redick: Just heard @Kyle Singler is staying in Spain and is going to finish the season with Real Madrid. Good for him! Respect. Twitter

Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Free Agency, JJ Redick, Real Madrid, Spain, Kyle Singler 

Pistons vice president of basketball operations Scott Perry was caught speaking with Kyle Singler for some minutes at the end of the game between Lucentum Alicante and Gran Canaria, something that is forbidden during the lockout. Marca.com

Detroit Pistons, Lockout, Spain, Kyle Singler, Lucentum Alicante, Scott Perry 

Miguel Angel Gil: Lucentum Alicante is negotiating with a sponsor that would allow the team to keep Kyle Singler till the end of the season. Twitter

Detroit Pistons, Lockout, Spain, Kyle Singler, Lucentum Alicante 

But the NBA shut down league operations on July 1 when the old collective bargaining agreement expired, and Singler's hope of making the team was put on hold. Rather than wait and wait and wait for the lockout to end, Singler, wanting to remain sharp and fit, launched his professional career in Spain's top flight with Lucentum Alicante. He's glad he made the decision to play in Europe. "Definitely," he said to FIBA.com. "I know a lot of guys back in the States want to play basketball. "It's unfortunate that the lockout is happening. "You have your pros and cons to everything. "I'm far away from my family and they're not able to see my play, but, this is what I want to do. "I'm having a good time, and it's good basketball." FIBA.com

Lockout, Spain, Kyle Singler, Lucentum Alicante 

Pistons forward Austin Daye, poised for a breakout year, isn't waiting for the NBA lockout to be resolved. The third-year forward signed a deal with a Russian team; Daye, 23, departs this weekend. Only one other Piston, second-round pick Kyle Singler, has signed an overseas deal, with Spanish club Lucentum Alicante. Daye's deal is for two months, ending in December, Daye can opt-out in case the NBA's collective bargaining situation is resolved quickly. Training camp would start the first week of October. Daye averaged 7.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20 minutes last season, shooting 40 percent from three-point range. Detroit News

Detroit Pistons, Lockout, Russia, Austin Daye, Kyle Singler, Lucentum Alicante 

Lucentum Alicante officially announced the signing of Kyle Singler for the coming season. The contract with the Spanish team has an NBA out. Sportando

ACB, Lockout, Spain, Kyle Singler, Lucentum Alicante 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Duke's Kyle Singler, 33rd overall pick to Detroit, has reached agreement on deal with Alicante of Spanish ACB, agent Greg Lawrence tells Y! Singler's deal in Spain includes an out-clause to return to NBA if lockout ends, Lawrence said. Twitter

Detroit Pistons, Spain, Kyle Singler 

Pistons draft picks Brandon Knight and Kyle Singler told the Free Press on Thursday afternoon that despite the fact that the lockout prevents them from even discussing a contract with the club that selected them in last month's draft, they aren't thinking about going overseas. "That's not an option for me as of now," Knight said from Maine, where both he and Singler were helping out at a basketball camp. "I'm just focusing on getting better. I'm sure that's an option for other guys.""Not really as of right now," Singler said when asked if he had considered a foreign league. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Lockout, Europe, Kyle Singler, Brandon Knight 

Vincent Ellis: Just got off the phone with Brandon Knight and Kyle Singler. Knight said overseas not really option. #Pistons. Twitter

Detroit Pistons, Lockout, Europe, Kyle Singler, Brandon Knight 

Brandon Knight will wear No. 7, Kyle Singler No. 25 and Vernon Macklin No. 20. Reserve guard Ben Gordon, who wore No. 7 previously, has approval to wear No. 8. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Draft, Ben Gordon, Kyle Singler, Brandon Knight, Vernon Macklin