CARDINALS

Siva playing for his job on Pistons’ summer league team

Jonathan Lintner
@JonathanLintner

Peyton Siva cemented a reputation at the University of Louisville with his ability to play for the name on the front of his jersey, so it’s a different sort of test that faces the point guard this month.

The fan favorite during his days at U of L, who led the Cardinals to the 2013 national title, is fighting for a job on the Detroit Pistons’ roster during a stint with their Orlando Summer League team.

The Pistons have until July 20 to either retain or release the Seattle native, whose contract came with a team option for the second year.

Stressful?

“Not at all,” Siva told reporters after a summer league game over the weekend, according to Pistons.com. “Yeah, it’s a contract and they’ve got the option. But all I can do is control how I play. I can’t really worry about what goes on outside or if I happen to come back. I believe that God has a plan for me, whatever happens.

“Of course I would love to stay with Detroit. But all I can do is control how hard I play and go out there and play.”

Through two games, Siva appears on track for an extension. He has averaged 14 points, 6.5 assists and just two turnovers in 28 minutes. He’s yet to show a 3-point shooting touch, hitting on 1 of 6 attempts, but is still making 50 percent of his field goals.

Siva found himself in a similar situation last year, when he made the Pistons’ roster despite going 56th overall in the 2013 NBA draft. It’s not necessarily the statistics that could win him a spot this year. New coach Stan Van Gundy is told Siva that his performance in practices — helping push others on the Pistons’ roster — would weigh heavily in the decision.

“He told me he wants me to come into the two-a-days and play hard and compete and I think I did a good job of that,” Siva told Pistons.com. “He told me not to really worry about the games. He put more emphasis on the practices. That’s what I tried to do — go out there and push it and work hard.”

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.