Enthusiasm Mixed As Pistons Begin Season

Enthusiasm Mixed As Pistons Begin Season
By Steve St-Pierre

With a new owner and head coach at the helm, the Pistons were expected to be a team on the brink of starting over with a fresh crop of new players to wash the losing stench that has plagued the franchise the last few seasons. Yet, the roster remains mostly intact, and this team is going to be a tough sell for fans in the Motor City.

In an extended offseason, the Pistons brought in Tom Gores, Pistons Owner, who in turn hired Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach. Gores also assisted Joe Dumars, Pistons President, in drafting point guard Brandon Knight out of Kentucky. Then, before the start of preseason, the front office negotiated a buyout of longtime off-guard Rip Hamilton, whose frustration with the franchise had rubbed off on many – if not all – of his Pistons teammates.

When the organization drafted Knight last June, it appeared the Pistons were declaring the need for a new playmaker to run the offense and spread the floor. Along with promising frontcourt players Greg Monroe, Austin Daye and a re-signed Jonas Jerebko, a foundation was put in place to market to Pistons fans as part of the new era in franchise history.

This entire outlook has changed, though, since the Pistons re-signed small forward Tayshaun Prince. Like Hamilton, Prince had appeared to be done in Detroit. It was widely assumed that he would leave in free agency and sign with a title contender. The Pistons already had two players in Daye and Jerebko who were ready to battle for the starting small forward spot.

Prince decided to stay with the Pistons. Whether it was for more money, to reestablish his legacy within the franchise or to simply be a part of turning the organization around, Prince signed a four-year contract to remain in Motown. As a result, the team keeps a versatile forward who helped guide it to a championship in 2004, but the young players take a back seat.

The Pistons also re-signed guard Rodney Stuckey this preseason. After drafting Knight, the team appeared set on moving Stuckey to shooting guard, his natural position in the NBA. As of this moment, however, Frank is starting Stuckey at the point and Ben Gordon at shooting guard. Knight and reserve point guard Will Bynum are sharing minutes with the second unit.

Furthermore, the team has elected to not use its amnesty clause this season, meaning that they are giving players like Gordon and Charlie Villanueva one more chance to prove their long-term value to the organization. Ben Wallace, the only other holdover from the 2004 championship team, is also back for one more season but will likely see spot minutes off the bench. He will see time at center behind Monroe and at power forward behind Jerebko and Villanueva.

Overall, this just does not seem like a team ready for a new regime. The Pistons have an opportunity to develop their young talent and sell their fans on a desire to change the culture while ridding themselves of players who provided little in the ways of winning games or bringing leadership to the locker room. Yet, their young assets continue to get pushed to the side in favor of other players who, despite possessing talent and skill, have been unable to gel and produce wins.

Pistons fans know this, and they are not going to support this product. This is a city with the perennial contending Red Wings, the promising Tigers and the up-and-coming Lions who have just clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 1999. Most fans are not going to miss out on any of that to follow a Pistons team that continues to lose games and remain without an identity.

It is painfully obvious that this current Pistons group is not a championship contender or even a playoff threat at this point. Most fans will not follow the team until they get back to winning. If the team wants to keep any of its remaining diehard fans, though, they will need to utilize their young assets if they are truly selling the concept of change.

Pistons Set To Waive Hamilton; Invite Others To Camp

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons continue to make several moves to their roster. A day after re-signing forwards Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko, the team has decided to part ways with longtime shooting guard Rip Hamilton.

Detroit has also invited several free agents to training camp. Those players include Damien Wilkins, Walker Russell, Jake Voskuhl, Kareem Rush and Brian Hamilton. Wilkins has a good shot of sticking with the team to back up Ben Gordon, who is now penciled in as the starting shooting guard to replace Rip Hamilton.

Since the Pistons are buying out Rip's contract, they will still have their amnesty clause available to use on another player if/when they choose to do so. Rip was owed roughly $20 million, but the buyout is reportedly worth about half of that. He is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Chicago Bulls.

Pistons Agree To Terms With Prince, Jerebko; Waive White

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have reportedly agreed to terms with free agent forwards Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko. They have also waived reserve guard Terrico White.

Prince will sign a four-year contract worth $27 million, while Jerebko's deal is also four years at $16 million. White, a combo guard, missed his entire rookie year last season with a broken foot.

Jerebko's signing comes as no shock, but the re-signing of Prince is surprising given the Pistons' amount of young forwards and several other teams' interest in the veteran Prince.

Ben Wallace appears ready to play one more season after taking his physical today. Training camp begins tomorrow, when the Pistons are expected to officially announce the signings of Prince and Jerebko. They are also likely to continue discussions with restricted free agent guard Rodney Stuckey.

Lockout Ends; Pistons Eager To Play

Lockout Ends; Pistons Eager To Play
By Steve St-Pierre

The NBA Lockout, which began July 1, is finally ending after players agreed to ratify a deal with the owners. Both free agency and training camp will begin Dec. 9, and a 66-game season will commence Christmas Day.

NBA teams are already allowed to negotiate with player agents, but no contracts can be signed until the start of free agency. Players are allowed to use team facilities, but team personnel cannot be present during basketball-related activities and are still not permitted to have any contact with players.

The Pistons can finally begin working on their roster. The nine Detroit players currently under contract are Will Bynum, Austin Daye, Ben Gordon, Rip Hamilton, Jason Maxiell, Greg Monroe, Charlie Villanueva, Ben Wallace and Terrico White. Both Jonas Jerebko and Rodney Stuckey are restricted free agents, while Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince and Chris Wilcox are unrestricted free agents.

Daye and Pistons second-round draft pick Kyle Singler spent the lockout playing overseas. Daye played a couple months in Russia but has since returned to the States. Singler, on the other hand, has been playing in Spain and has decided to remain there for the rest of the season. He anticipates signing with Detroit this summer.

The first order of business for the Pistons will likely be signing rookies Brandon Knight and Vernon Macklin. The front office also anticipates making quick decisions on Jerebko and Stuckey. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams have three days to match any offer sheets signed by restricted free agents.

As previously reported during the lockout, the Pistons will have a chance to begin a rebuilding process with a potential youth movement. Prince is not expected to return, and Wallace could still opt for retirement. Likewise, the team will continue to shop Hamilton on the trade market. This should allow the franchise to begin building around younger players like Monroe, Knight and possibly Daye, Jerebko and Stuckey.

With this new labor deal, an amnesty clause has been granted that allows teams to waive one player with pay and have 100 percent of that player’s salary removed from the team’s payroll. The amnesty can be used once prior to any season of the new CBA but only for contracts in place as of July 1, 2011. The Pistons had been expected to utilize the clause by waiving either Hamilton, Gordon or Villanueva but are said to prefer taking their time before making a decision.

With Singler staying in Spain, and the possibility of losing both Prince and McGrady, the Pistons will work to add depth to the small forward position. Daye would likely be the starter if the season began today, but they will need to re-sign Jerebko as well as look to a veteran free agent backup.

The power forward spot is also wide open. Jerebko and Villanueva will likely battle for the starting role, with Maxiell and Macklin both likely to see spot minutes off the bench. It’s also possible the Pistons could acquire another center and move Monroe to power forward.

More likely, Monroe will remain the team’s starting center. Wallace, should he elect to return, will be penciled in as the backup in what should be a more limited role. The Pistons won’t have significant cap space this offseason to pursue a veteran big man unless they decide to utilize the amnesty.

At shooting guard, Gordon and Hamilton will continue to battle for minutes as long as both are on the active roster. Clearly, one will need to go in order for the other to flourish on a consistent basis. At this point in his career, Hamilton would be a better fit on a championship contender, allowing Gordon to play the necessary minutes he needs to resurrect his NBA career.

In a perfect world, Knight would start the entire season as the Pistons’ point guard. However, Stuckey will battle for the spot if he re-signs with Detroit. Bynum, too, is not going to take a backseat without a fight. That said, neither Stuckey or Bynum have been able to solidify the role in recent years, and Knight is a promising lottery pick who surprisingly slipped to the Pistons at No. 8 in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Certainly, the team has several options for its rotation this season. Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach, has had a great amount of time to go over the various possibilities in his head. He’ll also continue to receive guidance from Joe Dumars, Pistons President, and their new leader Tom Gores, Pistons Owner.

It’s an exciting time to be a fan of Detroit Basketball. It’s the beginning of a brand new era in franchise history. For the players, it’s a chance to get back to playing the game they love and to give the fans the show they’ve been so patiently waiting for.

Pistons Have Plenty of Amnesty Candidates

Pistons Have Plenty of Amnesty Candidates
By Steve St-Pierre

The NBA and its players remain divided on a new deal for the league’s next collective bargaining agreement. However, both sides have apparently OK’d a proposal for a new amnesty clause that would allow each team to waive one player and shed 75 percent of that player’s contract against the salary cap.

According to multiple reports, the new amnesty clause is still being discussed in labor meetings. Some teams are arguing that, if they don’t currently have a bad contract they wish to shed, they should be allowed to save their amnesty clause for at least a year or two.

Certainly, the Pistons are a team that could desperately use such a privilege. One would think that the logical candidates for this clause would include guards Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva. All three players have struggled the last two seasons in terms of performance, and each is due a substantial amount of money over the next two to three seasons.

Hamilton, who the Pistons have tried to trade the last two years, is due to make over $25 million the next two seasons. Though he was a major contributor during Detroit’s title run in 2004, he has been a thorn in the franchise’s side for a number of years with his lackluster behavior both on and off the court. Since the Pistons traded away his former backcourt mate Chauncey Billups, Hamilton has appeared disinterested and welcome to a change of scenery.

The year after they traded Billups, the Pistons appeared ready to part ways with Hamilton when they spent $90 million to sign Gordon and Villanueva in the summer of 2009. Gordon, who like Hamilton is a shooting guard, established himself as one of the NBA’s best scorers with the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, Detroit hasn’t found a way to make it work with either player. Gordon is owed more than $37 million the next three seasons.

Villanueva, a power forward who was signed to replace veterans Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess, has also failed to live up to expectations in his two seasons with the Pistons, leaving a major void in the frontcourt. Villanueva will make over $24 million the next three seasons.

Assuming the Pistons elect to exercise an amnesty clause, they would have to decide between waiving Hamilton, Gordon or Villanueva. To do so, the front office would need to gauge its feelings on each player. Three years ago, Joe Dumars, Pistons President, elected to sign Hamilton to a three-year, $34-million contract extension. Two years ago, Dumars was willing to pay $90 million to sign Gordon and Villanueva. Obviously, Dumars will need to determine which player’s value has decreased the greatest the last couple seasons.

This time around, Dumars will surely need to consider the input of Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach, and even Tom Gores, Pistons Owner. Even during this current NBA lockout, these three individuals should be communicating on a regular basis, preparing for a possible amnesty clause and discussing the number of scenarios it presents.

The Pistons could very well elect to waive one of either Hamilton, Gordon or Villanueva via the amnesty clause while arranging a buyout for another. For example, the team could decide that since Hamilton only has two years left on his contract, it might make more sense to either continue trying to trade him or simply buy out the remainder of his salary whenever the lockout ends. If he was bought out, Hamilton would still stay on the Pistons’ salary cap for the duration of his contract, but he would be free to sign with another team, and the Pistons could use his roster spot to sign a different free agent.

Another option, of course, is to just use the amnesty clause on Hamilton and commit to moving forward with Gordon and Villanueva. Clearly, both players have been misused during their first two seasons in Detroit. Gordon, though undersized, is perfectly capable of handling a starting role at shooting guard. His scoring and ball-handling make him extremely valuable on the offensive end, and the Pistons must utilize these capabilities if he’s going to remain on the roster.

Even with Hamilton gone, it could still prove difficult to commit the proper amount of playing time to Gordon. The Pistons still have a logjam in the backcourt with point guards Will Bynum and rookie Brandon Knight. Likewise, combo-guard Rodney Stuckey is a restricted free agent who Dumars has previously expressed interest in retaining. If Stuckey was to return, Detroit’s rotation issues would likely continue.

If they used their amnesty clause on Villanueva, the Pistons would be even thinner up front. Veteran Greg Monroe is set to remain as the team’s starting center, but both forward positions are up for grabs. Austin Daye is currently penciled in at small forward, and restricted free agent Jonas Jerebko will likely be re-signed. If Villanueva was to be released, Jerebko could start at power forward. The Pistons still have veterans Ben Wallace and Jason Maxiell under contract, but Wallace appears on the brink of retirement, and Maxiell has never been more than a complimentary reserve player.

It remains to be seen how long the NBA lockout will last and what results will come of its completion. It does, however, appear certain that there will be some sort of amnesty clause for each of the league’s 30 teams. The Pistons are arguably in need of it more than any other, and they’d better be ready to make the most of it.

THE DETROIT PISTONS TO HOLD AUDITIONS FOR NEW CHEER TEAM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons will hold auditions for a new cheer team that will perform during home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills.  Auditions begin at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 23 at the Cheerleader Training Center (14922 Technology Drive, Shelby Township, MI, 48315).

Cheer Team members are required to perform during every Pistons home game and represent the organization throughout the year at various team and charity functions. A flexible schedule is a must for selected team members.

To audition, male and female candidates must be 18 or older and are required to show proof of identification.  Aspiring cheerleaders should be elite stunters that are stage ready, physically fit and have a strong work ethic.  Co-ed nationals experience is a plus. Participants are encouraged to wear athletic apparel to the auditions and be ready to perform.

        For more information on tryouts contact Tim Dameron at tdameron@palacenet.com or log onto http://www.nba.com/pistons/media/cheerflyer.jpg. 

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Players Out, Coaches In

Players Out, Coaches In
By Steve St-Pierre

Due to the current NBA lockout, more and more players are opting to play overseas in order to earn a paycheck while continuing to enhance their basketball skills. The latest Piston to join that group is veteran forward Austin Daye, who has signed a two-month deal to play in Russia.

Daye is the third Piston to sign a contract overseas. At the beginning of the offseason in July, Detroit parted ways with former free agent DaJuan Summers, who signed a two-year deal to play in Italy. Then in mid-August, Pistons rookie Kyle Singler signed with a club in Spain. Both Daye and Singler will return to the Pistons immediately following the lockout.

Current Pistons Will Bynum, Greg Monroe and Charlie Villanueva have each expressed some interest in going overseas if/when the NBA begins cancelling regular season games, though nothing is imminent. Villanueva says he’s currently in Michigan working out regularly with Pistons teammates Ben Gordon and Jonas Jerebko. A restricted free agent, Jerebko plans to wait out the lockout in hopes of getting a long-term contract with Detroit whenever free agency begins.

The lockout hasn’t stopped Daye or Villanueva from playing a great deal of competitive basketball. Daye starred in the Impact Sports league in Las Vegas this summer, going up against some of the NBA’s best players including LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Villanueva, on the other hand, played this summer with the Dominican Republic national team, coached by John Calipari, University of Kentucky Head Coach.

Meanwhile, the Pistons’ front office has stayed extremely active this summer despite not being allowed to negotiate trades or free-agent signings. Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach, has finalized his staff of assistant coaches. Brian Hill, an assistant the last two seasons under former Pistons coach John Kuester, will stay in Detroit. He is joined by John Loyer, Roy Rogers, Dee Brown and Charles Klask. Bill Pope, another assistant under Kuester, will also remain with the Pistons but as an advance scout.

Hill has worked with Frank in the past as members of the New Jersey Nets and the then-Vancouver Grizzlies. Rogers, a former NBA player in the late-90’s, coached under Frank in New Jersey before working alongside him last season with the Boston Celtics. Brown, a former Celtics player famous for winning the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest, has coached in the NBDL and WNBA. Loyer has spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the Nets.

Klask, a Michigan native, was an assistant last season with the Orlando Magic. He brings a unique emphasis on statistical analysis. The advanced stats movement, which has been popular for years in Major League Baseball, is something the Pistons want to continue to explore. Tom Gores, Pistons Owner, recently sent business partner Bob Wentworth to an advanced-stats seminar at Harvard University. It’s a technique Gores hopes to focus on in order to quickly improve the Pistons and make them elite again in Detroit sports.

The Pistons will continue to keep tabs on their players as much as they can during the lockout. Aside from monitoring the decisions of players signing overseas, they’ll also have to pay close attention to the situation involving veteran center Ben Wallace. With one season left on his contract, Wallace has been contemplating retirement, though he is leaning towards returning for one more year. He was recently arrested in Oakland County for drunken driving and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, though he’s not expected to receive jail time.

As the NBA closes in on a deadline to begin cancelling games, we could wind up seeing more players going overseas or even calling it a career, including in Detroit.

Pistons Hire Brown, Rogers As Assistant Coaches

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have hired new assistant coaches: Dee Brown and Roy Rogers, who both played in the NBA during the 1990's.

Joining them as an assistant coach will be John Loyer, who has spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the New Jersey Nets.

Brown, who has coached in the NBDL and WNBA, is most famous for winning the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest. Meanwhile, Rogers spent last season working with Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach, as assistants with the Boston Celtics. Prior to last season, Rogers was an assistant and scout under Frank with the New Jersey Nets.

Brian Hill, an assistant the last two seasons under former Pistons coach John Kuester, is likely to be retained. Pat Sullivan, also an assistant under Kuester, does not appear to be returning.

Stuckey, Jerebko Likely Top Free-Agent Targets

Stuckey, Jerebko Likely Top Free-Agent Targets
By Steve St-Pierre

We don’t know when the NBA lockout will end, but when it does, you can bet the Pistons will be talking quickly with restricted free agents Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko.

It’s easy to envision a long, bright future for Jerebko. Despite being injured and missing all of last season, he remains a fan favorite and heavily-marketed Piston. The people of Sweden adore him, and as a versatile combo-forward, Jerebko easily fits into the rotation.

Stuckey, on the other hand, is a different story. Though he’s still young and improving as a scorer and ball-handler, he’s failed to establish himself as the Pistons’ point guard. In fact, he’s struggled to prove he can even handle playing the position. It’s because of this that the team opted to draft point guard Brandon Knight this summer.

With Knight and Will Bynum both expected to earn minutes at the point, Stuckey’s future could be at shooting guard. Unfortunately, he has to prove he can handle playing that position as well. Stuckey’s outside shot still needs work, and he’ll need to improve defensively if he’s going to check the Kobe Bryants and Dwayne Wades of the NBA every night.

Most importantly, Stuckey finally needs to do what he’s said he would since the day Detroit traded Chauncey Billups – take control of the locker room. Instead, Stuckey has followed in the footsteps of disgruntled veteran teammate Rip Hamilton, publicly ignoring or cussing at coaches. Yet, he’s failed to take control of the team on the floor or in the huddle the way Pistons fans were used to seeing from Billups.

If the team decides that Knight is the franchise point guard, Stuckey will have to compete for minutes at shooting guard with Hamilton and Ben Gordon. If Detroit finds a way to trade Hamilton, that still leaves a four-guard rotation with Knight, Gordon and Bynum.

Joe Dumars, Pistons President, still says he plans on keeping both Stuckey and Jerebko around long-term. Because each player believes he’s about to sign a lucrative contract, neither of them are expected to play anywhere during the lockout and risk getting injured.

On the other hand, Detroit second-round pick Kyle Singler is set to play in Spain until the lockout ends, and former Piston DaJuan Summers signed a two-year deal to play in Italy earlier this summer. Current veterans Greg Monroe, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye and Bynum have all expressed interest in playing during the lockout but have yet to sign anywhere.

If Stuckey and Jerebko both return, they’ll be playing for Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach. In all likelihood, Dumars believes that Frank will have an easier and more effective way of communicating with his players than Detroit’s last two coaches did. Frank could have what it takes to get the best out of them, particularly Stuckey. It’s likely that Frank is spending his days at the Palace practice facility studying tape and determining where each of his players best fits in the rotation.

With nine players currently under contract and three rookies set to join them, the Pistons roster would be at 14 out of a possible 15 after adding Stuckey and Jerebko back. If Frank assumes both free agents will return, he can already begin planning his lineups based around those 14 players. Dumars wouldn’t be able to make many other additions unless it was via trade.

Should the Pistons bring Stuckey and Jerebko back, they’ll need to clearly define each of their roles. Both Dumars and Frank will be required to work closely and carefully to balance out the rotation and put each player in the best positions for them to be successful on the floor.

DENNIS MANNION NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE DETROIT PISTONS AND PALACE SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

In Play Magazine
       

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment announced today that Dennis Mannion has been appointed President, effective immediately.

Mannion, 52, will oversee all Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment business operations, including sales, marketing, finance and administration.  Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars will continue to oversee all basketball operations.

Mannion brings a broad and unique perspective, having spent 29 seasons working in four major professional sports, including two years managing business operations for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche from 1998 to 1999. Mannion most recently served as President of the Los Angeles Dodgers where he worked from 2007 to 2010. He also previously worked for the Baltimore Ravens from 1999 to 2007, and for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1982 to 1997.

“Dennis is very well qualified and will bring a fresh perspective to the organization,” said Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment owner Tom Gores.  “He is an innovative guy and he shares our vision of creating the best possible experience for our fans.   He also shares our core values of hard work and commitment to the community.  Dennis knows what it takes to succeed at a high level and we are excited to have him on board.”

Throughout his career Mannion has led operations during 12 post-season runs, including two World Series, an NHL conference championship and a Super Bowl.

“Detroit is an incredible sports and entertainment town and I am honored by this opportunity,” said Mannion.  “I look forward to working with the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment team, our corporate partners and the community to build on the legacy of this great organization.  We will do everything we can to provide the best, most exciting experience possible for everyone that comes out to see a game or a show.”

In Los Angeles, Mannion’s marketing initiatives and efforts to improve the game day experience helped the Dodgers lead Major League Baseball in paid attendance in 2009 for the first time since 1986.  He also created the Dodgers Sports Lab, an in-house production facility and staff that generates content for all of the team’s game broadcasts, motion graphics and video, online content and printed materials.

Mannion joined the Dodgers in 2007 following eight seasons with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens where he was Senior Vice President of Business Ventures. In that role, Mannion oversaw all revenue streams, image, and brand-generating properties. He led and coordinated the development of more than 60 Ravens sub-brands, 12 season-long Ravens television and radio shows, and annual events such as Spring Football Festival, Ravens Kickoff Week, State of the Ravens, and the Ravens All Community Team.

Prior to joining the Ravens in 1999, Mannion spent three years as Senior Vice President at Ascent Sports, owner of the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and the Pepsi Center. Mannion managed all business operations for both teams and the arena.

Mannion spent 16 years with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1982-1997, serving as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for his last eight seasons. He was noted for enhancing the fan experience at Veterans Stadium during his tenure and was instrumental in securing and the staging the 1996 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

Mannion is a native of New York and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in business and sports management.

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2011 DETROIT PISTONS PRESEASON SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

In Play Magazine

First Home Preseason Game Scheduled For October 9 At The Palace

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The National Basketball Association announced today that the Detroit Pistons will open their eight-game 2011 preseason schedule at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, October 9 (6:00 p.m.).

Three of the team’s eight games will be played at The Palace, featuring contests against the Minnesota Timberwolves (October 9), Charlotte Bobcats (October 23) and Miami HEAT (October 26). 

The Pistons are scheduled to make their ninth consecutive trip to Grand Rapids to play in The Meijer Basketball Classic at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, October 12 against the Toronto Raptors (7:00 p.m.).

Following is the Pistons 2011 preseason schedule (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

PISTONS 2011 PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE

        DATE    OPPONENT        LOCATION        TIME
        October 9       Minnesota       The Palace of Auburn Hills      6:00 p.m.
        October 10      at Atlanta      Philips Arena   7:30 p.m.
        October 12      Toronto         Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI       7:00 p.m.
        October 14      at Toronto      Air Canada Centre       7:00 p.m.
        October 21      at Milwaukee    Resch Center, Green Bay, WI     7:30 p.m.
        October 23      Charlotte       The Palace of Auburn Hills      6:00 p.m.
        October 26      Miami   The Palace of Auburn Hills      7:30 p.m.
        October 27      at Orlando      Amway Center    7:00 p.m.

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Pistons Starting Over With Frank

Pistons Starting Over With Frank
By Steve St-Pierre

Nobody knows when Lawrence Frank will actually get to begin coaching his new team, but when he does, he intends to start from scratch.

Frank has been introduced as the new head coach of the Pistons, who want to get back to being a blue-collar organization that can ultimately compete for a fourth NBA Championship.

“We need to reclaim the Pistons culture, and that’s about hard work,” Frank says. “The slates are clean. They have to be, because your scrapbooks don’t matter in this game.”

With the current NBA lockout, teams are not allowed to have any contact with players or player representatives. Coaches and other team personnel are not even able to mention players in public conversations.

“This is going to be a little difficult because of the situation we are in,” Frank says about the lockout. “I can’t talk in specifics or about the players.”

“Right now, our first job is to get this franchise back on track,” adds Joe Dumars, Pistons President. “We went through a very lengthy process with this hire – we started talking to Lawrence in June, and it is now August – and I’m very confident that he’s the right person to get us going in the right direction.”

Assisting Dumars with the hire were Tom Gores, Pistons Owner, and his business partners Bob Wentworth and Phil Norment.

“Working with Tom and his people was different because they have a system in place that they use for a big hire, and this was definitely a big hire,” Dumars says. “It was a very thorough search process, and that’s what we needed because we are desperate to find a long-term coach.”

Reports surfaced that Dumars actually preferred Mike Woodson, former head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and an assistant coach on the Pistons’ 2004 Championship team. Though such rumors have yet to be addressed, Frank acknowledges his flaws while maintaining confidence in working around those imperfections.

“I was like a bad Hollywood actor,” Frank says about his days in high school as a wanna-be basketball player. “All I ever heard was ‘cut, cut, cut, cut.’ My senior season, the coach put his arm around me and told me I had a ton of courage, but I was still cut.”

Despite never playing basketball, Frank has managed to be successful in the sport enough to warrant his second job as an NBA head coach. He previously spent seven seasons coaching the New Jersey Nets before joining the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach last season.

“It comes down to your actions as a coach and whether or not you back up what you say,” Frank says. “If you don’t back up what you say, no one trusts what you say.”

It also helps that Frank is known around the league for his hard work and dedication to his profession and the game of basketball.

“Lawrence won’t want me to say this, but he started on Monday, and he was here at 5:30 in the morning,” Dumars says. “We might be in an odd situation with the lockout, but he’s still here working.”

The next step for Frank will be hiring assistant coaches. He says he is already considering both Brian Hill and Pat Sullivan. Both previously coached under former Pistons head coach John Kuester.

“The qualities we’re looking for, one is high character; two is great work ethic; three is a passion and energy you can bring every day; four is an excellent teacher; and five is a lifelong learner,” Frank says. “Everyone we hire, regardless of names, they’re going to buy that because we have to be about what we talk about.”

Whenever the lockout ends, Frank will be expected to begin rebuilding the Pistons around a new core of younger players including center Greg Monroe and rookie point guard Brandon Knight. Dumars anticipates re-signing restricted free agent forward Jonas Jerebko, who would also be considered a centerpiece to the team’s future.

Meanwhile, the organization will have to address several other questions involving its current roster. It’s been well-documented that the team has been trying to trade disgruntled veteran Rip Hamilton, who along with Ben Wallace are the only holdovers from the ’04 title team. If Hamilton cannot be moved before the season begins, Frank will be stuck in the same position as Detroit’s two previous coaches, having to balance playing time between Hamilton and the rest of the Pistons’ crowded backcourt.

Guard Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva, Dumars’ prized free-agent additions in 2009, struggled immensely under Kuester. Frank must find a way to get both players consistent minutes on the court. Because both players signed for a combined $90 million, the team has limited ability to sign additional free agents. For Gordon, the opportunity for set playing time might only come if Hamilton is moved.

If Jerebko is re-signed, he could start at either forward spot alongside either Villanueva or Austin Daye. Tayshaun Prince, the Pistons’ starting small forward for nearly the last decade, is a free agent and isn’t expected back. Likewise, restricted free agent guard Rodney Stuckey could also be done in Detroit considering the team has Knight and veteran Will Bynum already set at point guard, with Gordon and Hamilton manning the shooting guard position.

Though Frank is currently unable to publicly address any of these decisions, he does accept the expectations being placed on him as coach of the Pistons.

“You look at the numbers – six straight years in the conference finals, playoffs in eight of the last 10 seasons and those three titles (in 1989, 1990 and 2004, respectively),” Frank says. “There are only five teams in the NBA with three of those, and this is one of them. That’s an honor.”

Pistons Set To Hire Frank

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

According to reports, the Pistons have decided to hire ex-New Jersey Nets head coach Lawrence Frank. He has beat out candidates Mike Woodson, Bill Laimbeer, Kelvin Sampson and Patrick Ewing.

Frank coached the Nets for parts of seven seasons before joining the Boston Celtics' staff as an assistant last season. It remains to be seen who will serve as assistants to Frank in Detroit, but Laimbeer could be considered for such a position after serving that role the past two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who coincidentally are the only team currently looking for a new head coach.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS - Pistons Automotion Dance Team To Hold Pre-Audition Clinic On July 18th

In Play Magazine

DANCE FOR THE DETROIT PISTONS IN 2011-12

Automotion Auditions Set To Begin August 1

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons dance team Automotion will host a pre-audition dance clinic for dancers interested in auditioning for the 2011-12 dance team on Monday, July 18th at 6:00 p.m. at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The clinic will serve as a precursor to the Automotion auditions which begin August 1.  All prospective candidates interested in trying out for the team are encouraged to sign up for pre-audition clinic.  Registration for the pre-audition clinic can be found on-line at http://www.nba.com/pistons/automotion_tryouts.html.

Female candidates must be 19 or older by October 1, 2011 and are required to show proof of ID along with their registration.  Choreography will be provided at the pre-audition clinic by the audition staff and dancers are encouraged to wear dance tops, shorts and tights – dress to impress.  See the Pistons website (www.pistons.com) for more details.

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Lockout Cools Pistons’ Draft Fire

Lockout Cools Pistons’ Draft Fire
By Steve St-Pierre

When its collective bargaining agreement expired July 1, the NBA locked out its players after failing to reach a new deal with owners. The timing’s unfortunate for anybody associated with the league but especially teams anxious to begin developing their new rookies.

The Pistons, who had the No. 8 pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, might have wound up with the biggest steal of the year in Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight. Detroit had every intention of taking a power forward at No. 8, anticipating Knight being off the board as early as No. 3. It just wound up working out that none of the teams drafting ahead of the Pistons had a dire need at point guard.

“We targeted big guys initially, but we said if those guys were gone, we would take the guy with the best value,” says Joe Dumars, Pistons President. “It was a talent we didn’t think we could pass up.”

“I’m definitely happy to be here in Detroit,” Knight says. “It’s a great feeling to be picked by Detroit. It’s a great city with a great tradition.”

When Knight was initially selected with the eighth pick, he wore an expression that screamed disappointment. Yet, he insists his only frustration stems from slipping in the first round.

“I think I reacted that way because I’m just a serious guy, and that’s always been my nature to be calm and collected,” Knight says. “Like I said, there’s a great tradition here. They have won three championships, and I’m hoping we can add to that.”

Detroit is also pleased with their second-round selections: Duke combo forward Kyle Singler at No. 33 and Florida power forward Vernon Macklin at No. 52.

“These are some good people,” Dumars says of his draft choices. “These guys have been raised the right way. Their families have done an incredible job with them, and we’re happy to have these guys represent us on a daily basis.”

Some argue Knight could wind up being better than the only point guard selected ahead of him, Kyrie Irving of Duke. The Cleveland Cavaliers took Irving with the No. 1 overall pick despite the fact he only played 11 games as a freshman due to a toe injury.

“(Knight) may have been the most impressive guy in terms of the interview process in Chicago,” Dumars says. “Just an off-the-charts guy…we spent a lot of time with him in Chicago. Everybody on the staff spent time with him.”

Though the Pistons were targeting a power forward in the beginning, it couldn’t have worked out better for them than to land a top point guard. It was Detroit’s most glaring need as the team has yet to find a replacement for former star Chauncey Billups. Rodney Stuckey, who the Pistons had hoped would settle into the role, is a restricted free agent and much more suited to play shooting guard.

Now, the Pistons can comfortably pencil in Knight as their starting point guard, splitting the minutes there with veteran reserve Will Bynum. If the team opts to re-sign Stuckey, he’ll likely share minutes at shooting guard with veteran Ben Gordon. Disgruntled swingman Rip Hamilton remains on the roster, though he could be traded or bought out whenever the lockout ends.

“We’ll end up adding more talent to this team,” Dumars says. “(Knight) can play in the backcourt with the other guards we have, and we’ll allow him to grow.”

Local media has already begun comparing Knight to Billups.

“The comparison is because he can shoot so well,” Dumars says. “(Knight) can really shoot the ball so well. When you name the best-shooting point guards, he’ll be one of those guys.”

As for their frontcourt, the Pistons still have plenty of depth. Greg Monroe remains the team’s starting center, and they have every intention of re-signing restricted free agent Jonas Jerebko, who will likely start at one of the forward positions. The other starting spot could go to Austin Daye, who hopes to finally have an opportunity to play consistent minutes.

The NBA’s free agency period will resume as soon as the lockout ends. Besides Jerebko and Stuckey, the Pistons have four unrestricted free agents in forwards Tayshaun Prince, Tracy McGrady, Chris Wilcox and DaJuan Summers, who has already signed a two-year contract to play in Italy.

Though the lockout forbids teams from any kind of player movement or contact, it doesn’t stop teams from being able to hire or fire coaches. The Pistons, since firing John Kuester, have interviewed five candidates for their head coaching vacancy: Mike Woodson, Bill Laimbeer, Lawrence Frank, Kelvin Sampson and Patrick Ewing. Since Detroit is the only team currently without a head coach, they haven’t felt rushed to make a decision.

Whoever becomes the Pistons’ next head coach knows it will be a prerequisite to play his new young players, particularly Knight.

“It’s not about years or anything like that,” Dumars says. “It’s just about trusting that this kid is going to get better. You draft a kid like this, the way they get better is you allow them to make mistakes. You’re not going to put them out there and put them in a position that they have to be perfect or else. You have to live with some mistakes with a young player.”

If there’s one thing to keep Pistons fans enthused during this lockout period, it’s knowing that the franchise is committed to adding talented players with the right mentality and commitment to winning.

“Brandon told me he’s tough, although he’s a little, slim guy,” Dumars jokes. “He told me he’s tough, so we believe that. There is no question about Kyle and Vernon’s toughness.

“But by and large what I’m saying is these guys epitomize what we’re about going forward.”

Pistons Take Knight, Singler and Macklin

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

They went into the 2011 NBA Draft prepared to select a big man, believing that the top point guards would be off the board by the time they picked at No. 8. Fortunately, all but one slid down to the Pistons, who wound up selecting Kentucky's Brandon Knight.

Detroit also owned two selections in the second round, opting for Duke's Kyle Singler at No. 33 and Florida's Vernon Macklin at No. 52. Singler's a talented all-around combo-forward, while Macklin's a tough-minded power forward known for his blue-collar work ethic.

Knight should be penciled in immediately as the Pistons' starting point guard as Rodney Stuckey is set to become a restricted free agent July 1. Stuckey could be brought back to play alongside Knight in the backcourt, which also features veterans Ben Gordon, Will Bynum and Rip Hamilton, though Hamilton could be moved before next season.

Joe Dumars, Pistons President, addressed the media shortly after the selection of Knight, admitting that he had planned to take a big man but could not pass on the promising point guard. Knight had been expected to go between picks 3 and 5.

Gores, Dumars Prepare For NBA Draft

Gores, Dumars Prepare For NBA Draft
By Steve St-Pierre

Officially the new owner of the Pistons, Tom Gores has wasted little time making his mark on the franchise. He’s decided to keep Joe Dumars as President and GM, who has since announced the firing of John Kuester as Head Coach. Gores and Dumars now have less than a month to negotiate trades, interview coaching candidates and gear up for the 2011 NBA Draft before the league enters into a lockout in July.

Dumars has recently admitted that he was unable to make all the moves he’s wanted to make due to the sale of the franchise. Now that his restrictions have been lifted under Gores, Dumars is hopeful he can make significant progress on his plan to rebuild the Pistons’ roster.

Currently, the Pistons have nine players under contract: Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Greg Monroe, Austin Daye, Will Bynum, Jason Maxiell and Terrico White. According to reports, the team has been trying to trade Hamilton for the past couple of years, and they’ll need to in order to give Gordon the amount of playing time and shot attempts he requires to flourish at the shooting guard spot. Likewise, Monroe is ready to be the team’s full-time starter at center, making the aging Wallace expendable as well.

With Detroit prepared to rebuild around Gordon and Monroe, the team’s goal now is to put pieces around them. Bynum and White are the only point guards under contract at this time. With few options available to them in the draft at that position, the Pistons will likely look to free agency or trades to acquire a starting-caliber point guard to play alongside Gordon in the backcourt. Up front, the team has all intentions of re-signing restricted free agent Jonas Jerebko.

With that in mind, the Pistons are expected to take a power forward with their first-round pick in this year’s draft to split time with Villanueva and Maxiell. That would leave Jerebko and Daye to battle it out for the starting spot at small forward. Detroit owns the No. 8 overall pick in the draft, and they expect to have a number of potential prospects to choose from at that spot. Those candidates include international forwards Jonas Valanciunas, Jan Vesely and Bismack Biyombo to go along with Texas big man Tristan Thompson.

With two additional picks in the second round, the Pistons could be looking to target a natural center to play behind Monroe. One name that certainly intrigues them is a local standout from Oakland University, Keith Benson. It’s also possible Detroit could shop both picks in order to acquire another first-rounder or to bring in another veteran player, perhaps in a deal that would also include Hamilton.

Besides improving the roster, Gores and Dumars will have to decide whether or not to pursue a new head coach before the expected lockout. Local reports are currently indicating Mike Woodson and Bill Laimbeer as the early front-runners. Woodson, who was the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons, served as an assistant on the Pistons under Larry Brown during the team’s 2004 championship season. Laimbeer, of course, is a fan-favorite due to his past success as a Pistons player and as head coach of Detroit’s former WNBA franchise, the Shock.

It’s quite possible the Pistons’ front office will elect to focus solely on improving its roster for the month of June and simply wait until after the draft to hire a head coach. Either way, the team will need to be aggressive these next couple weeks in terms of shopping players and scouting the upcoming rookie class. The 2011 NBA Draft should hopefully be the beginning steps toward revitalizing the ball club.

PISTONS FIRE HEAD COACH!

In Play Magazine

JOHN KUESTER RELIEVED OF PISTONS’ COACHING DUTIES

        AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that John Kuester will not return next season as the team’s head coach.  The decision was made following a meeting between ownership and the head coach.

“Decisions like this are difficult to make,” said Dumars. “I want to thank John for his hard work and dedication to the organization over the last two years, however, at this time we have decided to make a change.”

Dumars goes on to say, “As our organization moves forward and prepares for the future, the search for our club’s new head coach is a priority and will begin immediately.  However, at this time, we do not have a timetable for hiring a successor.  We’ll conduct our due diligence privately and announce a decision when we’ve identified that individual.”

Kuester, who was named head coach on July 9, 2009, tallied a regular-season record of 57-107 in two season’s with the Pistons.  He served one season in Detroit as an assistant coach under Larry Brown in 2003-04, helping the Pistons win the NBA Championship that year.

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SALE OF PALACE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND DETROIT PISTONS COMPLETED

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The sale of Palace Sports and Entertainment (PS&E) and the Detroit Pistons to Tom Gores and his investment firm, Platinum Equity, was formally completed today, following unanimous approval by the NBA’s Board of Governors. With the transfer of ownership Mr. Gores becomes the fourth owner in Detroit Pistons’ franchise history.

“I am very excited at the opportunity to lead this great franchise into the future,” Mr. Gores said. “The passion and commitment of Pistons fans is legendary, and our goal is to meet every one of their expectations. That starts with the hard work and values necessary to compete for championships. It also includes being a real partner in the community, and we intend to do that as well. We’re going to do everything we can to ensure that this organization deserves the passion of our fans. We can’t wait to make a difference in Detroit.”

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced on Tuesday that the NBA Board of Governors had unanimously approved the change of ownership. 

“It's very important to us, because we think Tom will bring renewed vigor and energy to that great franchise,” Mr. Stern said at a news conference prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. “He's really very anxious to get going…and that's a very good development for the Detroit Pistons and the good fans of Detroit.”

The Detroit Pistons are one of only seven teams in NBA history to win three or more championships and have made 40 playoff appearances in franchise history (fourth-most in the NBA).  Since the 2000-01 season, Detroit has compiled a record of 512-390 (.568), won six Central Division titles, made six consecutive trips to the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals from 2003 to 2008, won two Eastern Conference Championships (2004, 2005) and made consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, including an NBA Championship in 2004. 

On the entertainment side, PS&E’s Michigan venues average 300 events and 3.5 million guests annually.  The Palace has been voted Arena of the Year eight times by Performance magazine, twice by Pollstar magazine and is listed annually among North America’s top-grossing arenas.  Voted “Best Outdoor Concert Venue” in Pollstar’s 2000 Readers’ Poll, DTE Energy Music Theatre has been listed as the nation’s most attended amphitheater by Amusement Business/Billboard each of the 20 years of PS&E ownership.  Meadowbrook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland University hosted a record-tying six sold out shows in 2010 and achieved its second highest attendance average under PS&E’s 17 years of management.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Davidson family and what has been built here. Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons have enjoyed a great tradition of success and have been committed to being a positive influence in the community,” Mr. Gores added.  “Our mission is to continue that legacy and do it the right way.”

Karen Davidson transfers control of the company to Tom Gores after nearly 37 years of Davidson family ownership.  William Davidson became the club’s majority owner in 1974.

“Throughout this process, my goal was to find the right owner to lead Palace Sports and Entertainment into the future and I am certain that Tom Gores is that person,” said Davidson.  “He is an astute businessman, works hard and will bring a passion to this organization – that same passion that Bill had for so many years.”

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Pistons Get No. 8 Pick In 2011 NBA Draft

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons were hoping for a bit of luck in their second straight trip to the NBA Lottery. Unfortunately, it was bad luck that crept up on them as they were actually bumped down a spot and wound up with the No. 8 pick in this year's NBA Draft.

The 2011 NBA Draft, being held June 23 in New Jersey, is loaded with power forwards, making it likely that the Pistons go with somebody at that position to play alongside center Greg Monroe. Despite moving down a spot, Detroit is still expected to have plenty of big men to choose from.

The other possibility is that the Pistons take a point guard in the first round in hopes that a big man will slide to them in the second round. The Pistons have a hole right now at point guard since Rodney Stuckey and Tracy McGrady will be free agents this summer, leaving the team with just Will Bynum and Terrico White, who missed his entire rookie season last year due to injury.

Gores Leads Pistons’ Youth Movement

Gores Leads Pistons' Youth Movement
By Steve St-Pierre

The Pistons are committed to rebuilding around a youthful core. It begins at the top with Tom Gores, the franchise’s dynamic new owner.

Chairman and CEO of global investment firm Platinum Equity, Gores reached an agreement in early April with Karen Davidson, former Pistons Owner, to purchase the team along with The Palace of Auburn Hills, DTE Energy Music Theatre and the operating rights to Meadow Brook Music Festival. The deal was announced after several months of negotiations.

“We are pleased to welcome Tom Gores as the new owner of the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment,” Davidson says. “Just as my late husband, Bill Davidson, was the face of the Pistons, I am confident that Tom will bring the same energy, dedication and love to this organization. I look forward to seeing Tom follow in Bill’s footsteps and carry on his legacy…we look forward to facilitating a smooth transition under Tom and achieving even greater success in the future.”

The deal is expected to be finalized by June 30, pending league approval and normal closing conditions.

“I’m excited,” says the 46-year-old Gores, who grew up near Flint. “‘Excited’ is not actually the right word. Ecstatic. I’m back in Michigan, where I grew up, and I appreciate everybody welcoming me back.”

Gores considers the opportunity to own the Pistons a dream come true and a chance to be a difference-maker.

“It’s interesting about dreams,” he says. “I mean, of course, I’ve always wanted to own a sports team, but it came together. Everything came together at the right time. I grew up with sports, but mostly I’m excited about inspiring the town.”

The plan is for Gores, once his ownership is completely finalized, to continue traveling between Detroit and Los Angeles. Yet, he vows to take an active role with the Pistons.

“I’ll be whatever owner this team needs and this franchise needs,” Gores says. “When they need me back, I’ll be back. I will be impactful, that’s for sure.

“I want us to be successful. I didn’t show up here to not be successful. (I’ll do) whatever it takes.”

Gores acknowledges that he will not be able to turn the organization around alone.

“This is a community asset,” he says. “This is not an asset that we’re gonna handle alone…we have to do this together. It is a true partnership.”


A number of challenges present themselves to Gores when it comes to improving this basketball team. He has several decisions to make, including the status of John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, as well as the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft, which will be held June 23. His first task, though, is to meet face-to-face with Joe Dumars, Pistons President and GM.

“We’re in the learning process,” Gores says. “Joe is an amazing part of the Pistons organization, and we have to talk more, make sure we’re all on the same page, but he clearly is a part of this legacy…

“…We’re gonna learn first, so we’re not in decision-making mode. Are we afraid of change? Absolutely not. We’re ready for change, no problem. Sometimes you need change, but we’re gonna learn right now.”

Assuming Dumars remains with the organization, he and Gores will likely focus on the coaching situation. Very few believe Kuester will remain as head coach. Reports have already emerged that the team is considering both former Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer and former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Woodson, a one-time assistant in Detroit, as possible replacements.

The 2011 NBA Draft Lottery will be held May 17. The Pistons have a 4.3 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, though their best chances are at landing the No. 7 pick. They’re expected to take either a point guard or a power forward.

In the meantime, the sale of the franchise must be officially completed. Gores is thankful to the Davidson family for giving him the opportunity.

“I think Karen handled the situation really, really well,” he says. “Bill (Davidson) clearly built this house, and I have to build on it. I haven’t done anything yet.

“Bill did it all. He built the stadium, he built the team, he built the championships, and we have to go to work. Karen, I think, handled the situation beautifully, and all we want to do now is go to work and help the team, the Pistons organization, the community. All we’ve done is make a deal to buy the team, and we have to do more.”

To anybody who questions Gores’ loyalty towards the community and keeping the Pistons in Detroit, he insists he’s doing just that.

“Do you think I’m crazy? We’re here,” he says. “We’re here.”

Despite the organization’s question marks, its new owner remains optimistic he can turn things around for the Pistons.

“There’s a great, deep organization here that existed before us, and we need to make the most out of that,” Gores says. “This is not a culture you throw away. This is an unbelievable city. It’s an unbelievable organization.

“How long did Bill own the team? 30 some years, right? We need to take advantage of that, and I want to make Bill Davidson proud that we bought the team.”

Pistons Miss Playoffs For Consecutive Season

Pistons Miss Playoffs For Consecutive Season
By Steve St-Pierre

For the second season in a row, the Pistons have missed the playoffs and will return to the NBA Draft Lottery in May. Last year, the team blamed its lack of success on injuries, but this time around it’s been everything else.

John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, has struggled mightily this season to establish not only a set starting five but an entire rotation as well. Just about every player on the team received at least one DNP-CD (did not play, coach’s decision.) It’s led to a great amount of criticism from the media and heavy backlash from the players, some of whom have been very open about their feelings.

“Every game, I’m expecting not to play,” says reserve guard Will Bynum. “That’s how I’m approaching the game.”

At one point, rumors emerged that Kuester would be dismissed and replaced by Darrell Walker, current Pistons Assistant Coach. Instead, the team has opted to let Kuester finish the season. It’s been difficult for players to adjust to inconsistent playing time, but it’s something they’ve all had to do together as a team.

“Whatever (Kuester) decides, however long he decides to play me, I’m gonna take that and just try to produce as long as I’m out there,” says rookie center Greg Monroe.

“I’m not in control of minutes or when I play and don’t play,” Bynum adds. “All I control is being ready, and that’s what I try to do…it’s my job, man. It’s my job to be ready. It’s not to complain and pout, and I try to stay positive. When I’m out there, I try to make him regret not playing me.”

The coaching staff believes players haven’t worked hard enough in practice, leading to lackadaisical performances during games.

“We’ve got to get out of the habit of playing a good game and then not playing as well the next game or getting off this rollercoaster…” Kuester says. “…It’s the same old story. When we make shots and we defend better, things look so much better for us.”

Though the team has been relatively healthy this season, the Pistons have had to cope with the loss of forward Jonas Jerebko, a promising rookie last season who has missed his entire sophomore campaign after straining his right Achilles’ tendon during the first preseason game. He is set to become a restricted free agent this summer but has said he expects to stay in Detroit for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, the future remains murky for this organization and the NBA as a whole. The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire June 30, and much like the NFL, players and owners are arguing over the possibility of cutting salaries. If the two sides don’t reach a new agreement by July, the NBA will also enter a lockout that could stretch into next season. As a result, it’s become impossible for teams to truly plan a strategy for free agency this summer.

Furthermore, the Pistons have their own issues at hand. The team is still in the process of being sold, leading to speculation that the front office has essentially been frozen from making any transactions. In fact, Detroit has not made one transaction since the start of the season.

The pending expiration of the league’s CBA will have no direct impact on the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft, which is being held June 23. Therefore, the draft is likely going to be the Pistons’ only way of improving their roster in the near future. If a coaching change is going to be made, it should be completed as soon as possible. Yet, even that might not be possible as current ownership would have to approve the hiring of a new coaching staff, which probably isn’t a top priority for them at this time.

For now, the Pistons will continue to prepare for a lottery pick in the draft. Based on how many games they lose down the stretch, they could wind up at or around a top-five selection. The lottery itself gives Detroit – and every non-playoff team – a shot at one of the top three picks.

If the Pistons are stuck with their current roster, they’ll have plenty of holes to fill once all front-office restrictions are lifted. The only real asset the team has at this point is Monroe, who’s been one of the best rookies in the NBA all season.

“He’s just so doggone active,” Kuester says about his rookie big man. “For a guy that I think a lot of us early on said, ‘How is he going to rebound?’ we’re finding out that he can rebound with anybody.”

Rebounding is only part of the package. Monroe has been an extremely consistent scorer and passer in the post, something Detroit hasn’t had in years. He has the ability to play both power forward and center, and best of all, he’s brought an extremely rare positive attitude to the Pistons’ locker room.

“To me, every win is important to us right now,” Monroe says. “We’re trying to win every game.”

Besides Monroe, the only players under contract after this season are Bynum, Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, Jason Maxiell and rookie Terrico White. Wallace could opt to retire, especially if there’s a lockout next season. That leaves either Hamilton or Gordon likely penciled in as a starter at shooting guard with Monroe, but the team will have holes at point guard and small forward as well as either power forward or center, depending on where Monroe plays.

The hope is that Gordon and Villanueva, who signed long-term contracts with Detroit in the summer of 2009 totaling $90 million, can finally establish themselves as fixtures in the team’s rotation. For that to happen, the coach needs to commit to both players in the lineup, with Gordon solidifying the two-guard spot and Villanueva playing power forward alongside Monroe. If the team assumes it will have no trouble keeping Jerebko, he could take over the small forward position.

That leaves a hole at point guard. Bynum has played effectively at the position, but he’s by no means a legitimate starter at this time. Rodney Stuckey, a combo guard who has been groomed for the position his entire career, hasn’t been able to keep the starting job and is also set to become a restricted free agent this summer. There are those who still believe Stuckey can play the position.

“(Stuckey’s) been terrific for us,” Villanueva says. “He’s pushing the basketball, and he’s been making the right plays. He’s been scoring a lot of points. Rodney’s a tremendous player.”

Yet, Kuester hasn’t trusted Stuckey at the position. Perhaps it’s an area the team can focus on for the upcoming draft. Then again, there aren’t many clear-cut point guards available this year.

The Pistons certainly have their hands full this off-season. It remains to be seen just how much ability they’ll have in order to fix the roster. Until then, fans are going to have a hard time believing things will improve for this organization.

PISTONS CARE TELETHON RAISES MORE THAN $350,000

In Play Magazine 

DETROIT PISTONS CARE TELETHON RAISES

MORE THAN $350,000 FOR BOYS & GIRLS clUBS IN MICHIGAN

The 2011 Pistons Care Telethon, which culminated in an 18-hour donation drive and telecast of the team’s game on March 18, raised $351,110 in pledges to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs in Michigan with net proceeds being distributed amongst the 35 Boys & Girls Club locations across the state of Michigan. The pledge total will fund over 7,000 Boys & Girls Club annual memberships as well as support the cost of programming for youth in need.

Although the Telethon took place on March 18, there is still opportunity to support the Boys & Girls Clubs in Michigan. Pistons fans can visit pistons.com and click on the red “Charity Auctions” link through March 29 to donate via an online auction of 10 unique Pistons experiences and memorabilia including two hours of play to host a pick-up game with friends on the official Pistons court; golf for two with Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko and two signed Jerebko jerseys; an opportunity for a group of three to play video games against Greg Monroe in the Pistons locker room; a meet and greet with former Pistons “Bad Boy” Dennis Rodman including four lower-bowl tickets to the April 1 Pistons vs. Chicago game in which Rodman’s jersey will be retired; and a trip for two on the Pistons team plane to a road game which includes two lower-bowl tickets and accommodations at the team hotel.

Additional online auction items include an autographed Joe Dumars basketball; a limited edition autographed Rodney Stuckey jersey; a meet and greet with Tracy McGrady including two press row tickets to a future game; a meet and greet with Joe Dumars including two press row tickets to a future game; and even an opportunity to sit courtside with Greg Kelser and George Blaha during one of their in-game broadcasts including an on-air mention, two lower-level tickets and a George Blaha and Greg Kelser autographed basketball.

“Exemplifying the true spirit of teamwork, our fans and sponsors have rallied together to help raise funds for thousands of children who will be given the mentoring and guidance to succeed.” said Alan Ostfield, President & CEO of the Pistons and PS&E. “The Pistons and Boys & Girls Clubs look forward to teaming up to implement Telethon funds to the 35 Club locations statewide throughout the calendar year.”

 “The Pistons players and the entire Pistons Sports & Entertainment family went above and beyond for Boys & Girls Clubs across the state. Their leadership will help provide brighter futures for many children.” said, Len Krichko, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan. 

Entertainers including Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Eminem, Rihanna, Usher and Jimmy Buffett supported the event.

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Pistons Pass On Trades, Move Past Alleged Protest

Pistons Pass On Trades, Move Past Alleged Protest
By Steve St-Pierre

An already difficult season for the Pistons took a turn for the worst in late February when several Detroit players allegedly orchestrated a player protest, skipping a pregame shootaround. The organization has gone at great lengths to deny the allegations and move past the ugly occurrence.

The incident took place following the NBA’s trade deadline. According to various reports, the Pistons negotiated two separate deals involving veterans Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.

The Dallas Mavericks, interested in acquiring Prince, offered Detroit the expiring contract of injured forward Caron Butler along with their 2011 first-round draft pick. Joe Dumars, Pistons President, allegedly passed on the deal because he wasn’t interested in swapping expiring contracts – Prince is also a free agent this summer – or acquiring Dallas’ pick, which is expected to be in the late 20’s overall. Likewise, Dumars wants to keep his options open with Prince, looking to either keep him this offseason or sign-and-trade him in a more beneficial deal.

Reportedly, the Pistons agreed to send Hamilton to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with a lottery-protected 2012 first-round pick in exchange for a $12.6 million trade exception and a second-round pick. Hamilton allegedly made it clear he did not want to play for the league’s last-place team, so the Cavs discussed a contract buyout that would have paid Hamilton $18 million of the $25 million left on his contract and allowed him to sign with any other team.

Supposedly, Hamilton passed on the offer, perhaps hoping the Pistons will be purchased soon by a new owner, opening up the possibility of a higher buyout.

With frustration building throughout the Pistons’ locker room, several players apparently decided to take their frustrations out on John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, by boycotting the shootaround. The players accused of participating in the protest include Hamilton, Prince, Tracy McGrady, Chris Wilcox, Rodney Stuckey and Austin Daye.

The organization has denied the allegations, vouching for each player. According to the Pistons, Prince and McGrady were excused due to illness, Wilcox overslept, and Stuckey and Daye showed up towards the end of shootaround due to a mix-up.

Hamilton, though he was unexcused, apologized to Kuester. The two had been at odds since Hamilton was benched early in the season in favor of McGrady. For the time being, it appears that Kuester has flip-flopped the two in his rotation, opting to play Hamilton and sit McGrady. Hamilton has been coming off the bench, with Stuckey moving back to point guard and Ben Gordon starting at shooting guard.

Additionally, Ben Wallace missed shootaround the day of the protest but has been excused from the team to deal with the death of his brother. As a result, Daye and Wilcox have been starting at the forward positions alongside rookie center Greg Monroe. In an effort to move forward from the so-called shootaround shun, the Pistons quietly issued fines for Hamilton, Wilcox, Stuckey and Daye.

“We’ve had a lot of interesting things happen to our team…” Kuester says. “…This is an emotional game, a passionate game, and my goal as a coach was always – and will always be – to get the maximum potential out of players.

“I always go back to Ben Wallace saying ‘Players aren’t going to like coaches, coaches aren’t going to like players, (and that’s) the way it is.’ I just want the maximum potential out of these guys.”

As of now, Daye has been the only player to open up about missing shootaround.

“For me, personally, I have no problem with Coach,” Daye says. “He’s been playing me, so why would I protest someone that’s playing me?”

Daye stands by the Pistons’ explanation of what occurred and acknowledges it was his fault.

“That’s why I got punished,” he says. “You make a mistake, and you learn from it…trust me, if I could’ve been on time, I would have…it’s a mistake I’ll never make again, and I apologize to Pistons fans and the Pistons family for being late.”

Dumars, who’s known for shying away from the media, issued a statement to voice his support for Kuester. The players understand why Dumars carefully picks and chooses when to speak out.

“If he feels that something needs to come up and something needs to happen, he’s going to do it because he’s the head honcho around here,” Daye says. “And we all respect him.”

Despite the negative that’s come out of this season, the Pistons have had some positive highlights as well. For example, the players who did not protest against the coach have benefited by staying on the floor and continuing to develop for the future.

“That’s what it’s all about, getting an opportunity and taking advantage of it,” Kuester says. “One of the things that happens in this league is that no one is entitled to anything. The big thing about respect and earning respect, you earn that every day. You don’t earn it on the past. You earn it on how you work every day and how you react to things every day, and that’s how you earn respect.”

“I’m here to play basketball,” Monroe adds. “That’s my job, and that’s what I’m going to do.

Though the odds are against them, the Pistons believe they have enough in them this season for a playoff push. However, they know it’s going to require a commitment from the entire team.

“We have a lot of maturity, and I think Greg Monroe has benefited a lot from Ben Wallace,” Kuester says. “I think Austin Daye has benefited a lot from Tayshaun Prince. I think Tracy McGrady has done some things to help our young players too.”

“Of course, those guys are a big part of our team,” adds Monroe. “They’ve been a big part of this franchise for a long time.”

Despite the constant backlash from his players and the rumors of his eventual dismissal, Kuester maintains confidence in his team.

“This isn’t about coaching,” Kuester explains. “This is about players, and this is about them wanting to win.

“Sometimes, you’re not going to execute the right way or do things the right way. But when you play with energy and play with intelligence…good things will happen.”

STATEMENT FROM PISTONS PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS JOE DUMARS

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The following statement was released this afternoon by President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars.

“First of all, John Kuester has my full support as we try to make a push towards the postseason over these last 21 games. We’ve had a long and proud history of being a first class organization that handles its business the right way. We expect everyone that represents the Detroit Pistons to do so in a first class manner and that will continue as we move forward.”

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DETROIT PISTONS TO RETIRE DENNIS RODMAN’S #10 JERSEY

In Play Magazine

Forward Helped The Pistons Win Back-to-Back NBA Championships

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club will retire Dennis Rodman’s #10 jersey during a halftime ceremony on April 1, 2011 when the Pistons host the Chicago Bulls at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“I’m pleased that we are honoring Dennis for his accomplishments as a player and his contributions to the success of the organization,” said Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons. “His jersey retirement is well deserved.”

Drafted 27th overall by the Pistons in the 1986 NBA Draft, Rodman was a key member of the Pistons ‘Bad Boys’ teams that led the franchise to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. An elite defender and rebounder, he averaged 8.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 54 percent from the field in 549 games as a Piston. Rodman led Detroit in rebounding four consecutive seasons (1989-1993) and was the league’s top rebounder from 1991-93 when he averaged 18.7 and 18.3 rebounds per game, respectively. He was a two-time NBA All-Star while playing for Detroit (1990, 1992) and was named to the All-NBA Third Team following the 1991-92 season. Rodman was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991 and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive first team for five consecutive seasons (1989-93).

“Individual accomplishments have never been a big deal for me as a player, but to be honored for my contributions in this way by the Detroit Pistons organization is truly humbling,” Rodman said in a statement issued through his manager, Steven Simon of Prince Marketing Group. “This organization gave me a chance to blossom regardless of my size or what school I came from. My only regret is that the man that believed in me more than I did myself, Chuck Daly, is no longer with us. I’m sure he’ll be with us that evening in his own way.”

The 6-7, 210-pound forward, nicknamed “The Worm” during his playing days, ranks fourth among all-time franchise leaders in total rebounds (6,299) and still holds team records for most rebounds in a game [34, vs. Indiana (3/4/92)], most offensive rebounds in a game [18, vs. Indiana (3/4/92)], most defensive rebounds in a game [22, at Sacramento (3/14/92)] and most games with 25-plus rebounds (15). He also recorded 30 or more rebounds three times and holds the team record for highest field goal percentage in one season at 59.5 percent (1988-89).

Rodman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on October 1, 1993 and also played with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. He played a key role in the Bulls’ three consecutive championships from 1996-1998 and holds the NBA records for most consecutive seasons leading the league in rebounds [7, (1991-97)] and most seasons leading the league in defensive rebounds [3, (91-92, 93-94, 97-98)]. Rodman picked up two more NBA All-Defensive First Team honors after leaving Detroit (1995, 1996), a NBA Second-Team All-Defensive honor in 1994 and an All-NBA Third Team honor in 1995. Overall, he played in 911 career NBA games averaging 7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 31.7 minutes per game.

“We are excited to welcome Dennis Rodman back to The Palace and honor him with his jersey retirement,” said Alan Ostfield, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment. “We look forward to hosting an exciting evening for Dennis as well as our fans.”

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Monroe Establishing Himself As A Starter

Monroe Establishing Himself As A Starter
By Steve St-Pierre

The Pistons are clearly going through a rebuilding process. The bad part of that is seeing the team move away from the veteran players who helped bring Detroit the 2004 NBA Championship. On the bright side, though, the team is seeing great success out of their younger players like rookie Greg Monroe.

After a slow start to the season, Monroe has worked his way into the Pistons’ starting lineup, shifting between power forward and center. He’s greatly improved both his hands and footwork. Not only has his team noticed, but the entire league has acknowledged his improvement, so much so that he has been named to the 2011 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at All-Star Weekend later this month in Los Angeles.

“He’s such a refreshing player to be around because he just wants to play basketball,” says John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach. “It’s pretty impressive to see him continually grow.”

Monroe’s been consistent at rebounding as well as moving without the ball, finding open paths to the rim and getting a variety of scoring opportunities.

“My teammates find me, and that’s basically it,” Monroe says. “I’m just trying to get myself in position to get easy baskets, and they’re making great passes that find me.”

To his credit, Monroe’s been able to adjust to extended minutes. With recent injuries to veteran Ben Wallace, Monroe’s had to shoulder the load in the post.

“I’ve got to come out and perform,” he says. “I’m not worried about my legs right now. It’s my first year, so I’m trying to produce.”

The rookie’s opened many eyes on the court, and his teammates acknowledge that he’s increasing his workload and improving day by day.

“I wouldn’t say he’s becoming one of the leaders,” says point guard Tracy McGrady. “He’s still a baby. The guy ain’t 21 yet. He’s still got a lot to learn in this league, but he’s progressing. He’s playing well, great energy, he’s learning the game and he’s going to continue to get better because he works.”

Monroe admits that having a teammate like Wallace has been extremely beneficial towards his development as an NBA player.

“It’s been great,” Monroe says of Big Ben. “He’s been out for a while, but it’s always good to have somebody that’s out here rebounding, great defender, somebody who can play off you, very unselfish. It’s always good to have a player like him on the floor.”

Unfortunately, the Pistons are beginning to transition themselves away from some of their veteran players. In fact, former starting shooting guard Rip Hamilton claims to have played his last game in a Detroit uniform. He had been rumored to be close to being traded, but the deal fell through. As a result, the team has opted to bench the disgruntled veteran in an effort to give extra playing time to younger players. The team has even moved him to the inactive list, meaning he will be in dress clothes during games.

Many players have voiced their frustrations throughout the season regarding not only Hamilton’s situation but even the constant shuffling of the rotation.

“That’s none of my business,” McGrady says. “I mean, really, I don’t get involved in that. But at the end of the day, we support Rip.”

“It’s tough, but it’s part of being a professional,” adds reserve guard Will Bynum. “We get paid a lot of money to play this game, so all I can do is stay ready…I’m 100 percent behind it.”

Kuester insists he’s just searching for the best combination of players throughout his entire roster.

“Anybody that wears a uniform in the NBA (has) to be ready to play…” Kuester says. “…We’ve talked about this throughout the season. Sometimes you’ve just got to have a gut where you’re gonna ride the people that are playing well.”

“We have so many weapons on this team,” adds forward Charlie Villanueva. “Sometimes, we’re going to need something from each and every guy.”

Though the team has essentially gone with a youth movement, the Pistons haven’t completely given up on all their veterans. Besides Wallace, they have depended greatly on the guidance of McGrady and longtime forward Tayshaun Prince. Prince has been Detroit’s best all-around player, while McGrady has become the team’s primary ball-handler and floor leader.

“He’s really done a nice job of keeping the pace of the game,” Kuester says of McGrady. “That’s one of the things I love about him…he’s always probing the court to see where there’s a mismatch.”

T-Mac’s conditioning continues to improve, as he said it would when he first signed with the Pistons this past summer.

“My legs are starting to feel normal,” he says. “I feel like I’m getting my bounce back, so it’s starting to show a little bit.”

“I think one of the things that’s evolved about him is, listening to him, how he talks to his teammates,” Kuester explains. “The other thing that’s very impressive is he was a superstar, and he has checked his ego. He really doesn’t care whether he scores. He wants to make sure that everybody’s involved.”

As the organization continues to steer itself into a new direction, the goal remains to compete for a postseason berth in a weak Eastern Conference. As up and down as the Pistons have played this year, they still have a chance to finish the season strong.

“Momentum can change like that,” Kuester says. “Momentum can change from play to play, to quarter to quarter, to a half, to a game and then all of a sudden things change.”

“For us to make a playoff push, we’ve got to step it up,” adds McGrady. “We’ve got to play a lot better on both ends of the court, and the effort’s definitely got to be there.”