Dupree seeking right fit in NBA

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 18, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:28 a.m.

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For now, though, Dupree is willing to give the NBA a little longer.

Dupree has kicked around in the league for six seasons, with his playing time dwindling each year. In 2007-08, the 6-foot-7, 209-pound swingman played in only five games.

But a late stint with Seattle at the end of last year left the door open, and Dupree played with the franchise’s summer league team in hopes of getting a serious look when players report in October.

“I played summer league with them and that was the plan when I got with them with last year,” said Dupree, who ranks eighth on LSU’s all-time scoring list with 1,726 points and seventh in rebounds with 907. Dupree was the Tigers’ leading scorer in 2001, ’02 and ’03, topping 500 points each season. “They have a young team and they’re building with youth and trying to get better. I’d like to be a part of that, but at the end of day it has to be something that fits for me.”

Dupree has floated around the fringe of the NBA the last few years, signing a series of 10-day contracts with Detroit, Minnesota and Seattle. He spent his rookie season — his most productive year — with Chicago and averaged 6.2 points and 3.6 rebounds.

He still hopes to latch on with a team and play in the league for several more years. Dupree pointed to Brandon Bass’ emergence with the Dallas Mavericks as a blueprint he hopes to follow.

“I need to find a system that fits the way I play and a coach who will give me an opportunity to develop, similar to what Brandon Bass has found in Dallas,” Dupree said. “He went to a team that has been successful and he played well and even got some playoff experience, which is huge for a young guy. I want to stick with a franchise and grow with them and I think in the right situation I could be a very solid player for a long time.”

Could that be with the Sonics, who are in flux right now? Dupree said the team showed up in Orlando with Seattle practice gear, but by the time games began the players were outfitted with generic uniforms representing their pending move to Oklahoma City.

“They are starting over as a franchise and that’s something I’d like to be part of,” Dupree said.

He also wouldn’t rule out a return to Detroit, the team he’s played 67 games for. The Pistons made an offseason coaching change, elevating assistant Mike Curry to the top job.

Dupree and Curry played against each other and their paths have crossed often in the NBA Developmental League.

“I wish he would have gotten the job a year earlier because he definitely would help develop my game,” Dupree said. “He was a great hire for Detroit.”