AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons signed veteran guard John Long, who spent the first eight seasons of his 11-year career with Detroit, to a contract for the remainder of the National Basketball Association season.
The Pistons dropped 6-foot-11 Darryl Dawkins to make room on their roster for the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Long.
Long was cut last week by the Indiana Pacers, for whom he had played the last two seasons.
'This is a great opportunity for me,' Long said. 'Even though I've played with Indiana the last 2 seasons, Detroit was still my home. It's going to be very easy to adjust because I played for (Coach) Chuck Daly and I know most of the guys on the team.'
Long, a graduate of the University of Detroit, averaged 15.9 points in eight seasons with Detroit after the Pistons made him the 29th pick in the 1978 draft. He averaged 7.3 points as a substitute in 44 games with the Pacers, dropping his career mark to 15.5.
Dawkins played in 14 games with Detroit, averaging 1.9 points, but played in just two of the last 25 games. He suffered a shoulder separation earlier in the season.
He sat out last season after being obtained by the Pistons because of the death of his wife.
With Bill Laimbeer and James Edwards healthy, Dawkins got no playing time. The club felt the need for an experienced fourth guard showed itself when Joe Dumars broke a bone in his left hand and missed a month of the season.
Vinnie Johnson moved up to play beside Isiah Thomas but the Pistons' only other guard was rookie Michael Williams.
