The Detroit Pistons want Deron Washington on their team -- but probably not next season.

Detroit, which has made it to the Eastern Conference finals or NBA Finals each of the past six seasons, took the former Virginia Tech forward with the next-to-last pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday night.

"My family was so excited. They just jumped up with joy," Washington, the 59th overall pick, said in a phone interview Friday. "It was almost like watching the selection show and getting into the [NCAA] tournament."

But the Pistons, who added three players in the draft, could have a roster full of veterans with guaranteed contracts next season. Their top pick in the two-round draft, UAB's Walter Sharpe, might be the only rookie on the Pistons next season. He was taken early in the second round.

Pistons player personnel director George David said Washington will likely have to play overseas next season.

"We're probably not going to have a roster spot [for him] next year," David said. "That pick was going to have to be someone who was willing to potentially go overseas if need be for next year.

"Sometimes you have more draft picks than you do roster spots in a particular year, so you end up having to either draft an overseas player who can stay overseas ... and then he comes back when you have a roster spot, or you can draft an American player who feels like he doesn't mind going overseas for a year or two, making some money playing for a team overseas, and coming back when you potentially have a roster spot."

Going overseas would be OK with Washington.

"It's an opportunity that I need to get my foot in the door," he said. "I'll be just fine with that. As long as I'm playing professional basketball somewhere next year, I'm happy with it -- and still being able to know that I have the opportunity to get back in the league."

The Pistons will retain Washington's rights, so they can still put him on their roster after one or two seasons overseas -- even though he wouldn't be under contract with Detroit until then.

The NBA Development League is not an option. NBA teams can send players down to the D-League, but those players have to remain on the NBA squad's roster.

And the Pistons don't expect to have room on their 15-man roster for Washington.

Washington will play next month for Detroit's summer-league team in Las Vegas, and the Pistons will bring him to training camp in the fall. So he will get a chance to prove he's worth keeping this year.

Washington said he hasn't talked with his agent about where he might play overseas.

Detroit was one of 11 teams that brought Washington in for a workout. He was considered to be a potential second-round pick.

Washington watched the draft on TV in New Orleans with his girlfriend, former Virginia Tech forward Britney Anderson; his parents; and other relatives.

Washington said the Pistons told his agent during the second round that they hoped to draft him, so he wasn't too nervous as he continued to be bypassed in the draft.

But he didn't tell anyone what his agent said because he wanted his family to be excited when he was picked.

The 6-foot-6 Washington averaged 13.1 points as a senior this year, when he made the ACC all-defensive team. David envisions him playing off-guard, small forward and power forward in the NBA.

"One of the things we look for in guys coming off the bench are guys who lift the play of the game," David said. "This is a kid who's got tremendous energy, tremendous athleticism. We really think he's going to be a guy that can really defend.

"No question he's an NBA-level athlete. ... Offensively, he's a guy that's really good in the open floor. Simply beating his man down the floor is going to help get him some easy baskets."