Washington ? Laron Profit, a former standout at Maryland, understands his chances of rejoining the team where he spent his only two NBA seasons are about as slim as he is.

Billy Thomas, a former standout at Kansas University, realizes that his shot at making the Washington Wizards is about as long as his range on the basketball court (his half-court shot at the end of the team’s open scrimmage earlier this week not withstanding).

With the Wizards battling an assortment of injuries, however, coach Eddie Jordan has had to hold on to Profit and Thomas longer than many expected. They responded against the Pistons on Wednesday, scoring 11 points apiece and playing aggressive defense during a 92-83 win.

Neither player has expressed concerned about minutes or their future with the team, either.

Thomas, 28, has been struggling to find a home in the league since he left Kansas in 1998.

He has bounced around the NBDL, the USBL, Italy, Argentina and the Philippines — “I’m a traveling man,” Thomas, a 6-foot-4 guard said, smiling — but he won’t give up the dream.

“With the way the roster is set, with three two guards, it doesn’t seem all that promising,” Thomas said of his chances to stick in Washington.

“At the same time, I’m auditioning for 29 other teams. That means I play hard with effort and energy, showing teams I can stretch the defense.”

Thomas shot 3-for-6 from the three-point arc against the Pistons, but was kicking himself afterward for shooting two “uncharacteristic” air balls with the shot clock winding down.

Coach Jordan didn’t think Thomas hurt his chances at all.

“He helped himself tremendously,” Jordan said. “It’s not like he was in a bad way, as far as making the team. I’ve always liked him.”

Thomas tallied just two points off 1-of-2 shooting in the Wizards’ 100-82 loss to Detroit on Friday night.

Profit also is on a mission.

“It’s something I can’t control, so I can’t worry about it. I can only control the amount of effort and energy I have for the game,” said Profit, who averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in two seasons with the Wizards before he was traded to Orlando in 2001 for center Brendan Haywood.

Profit hasn’t made an opening-day NBA roster since, playing briefly in Italy and helping the Guangdong Southern Tigers win the Chinese Basketball Association championship last season.

Profit, 27, said his international travels helped him “fall in love with the game” again. “Sometimes when you’re in a relationship with a person, you start taking them for granted,” Profit said. “I kind of went through that with basketball.”

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Ex-Jayhawk update: Former KU guard Ryan Robertson, who played in the Netherlands the last two seasons, has been signed to play for a professional team in Athens, Greece. He replaced ex-Jayhawk Jeff Boschee, who left the team because of a hip injury.