by Marck Woods

Luigi Datome says he's ready to be a key cog in the Detroit Pistons' rebuilding project after measuring himself against several future NBA opponents during the EuroBasket tournament in Slovenia. The 6-foot-8 Italian forward signed as a free agent in Motown earlier this summer, agreeing to a two-year deal worth a reported $3.5 million after ending a five-season stint with Virtus Roma.

The reigning MVP of Italy's Serie A, Datome has been the country's most consistent performer during its surprise run through the European Championships, with the next stop coming against Lithuania in Thursday's quarterfinal. In eight games, Datome has averaged 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds and has largely outshone teammate Marco Belinelli.

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Source: http://espn.go.com/