Broker Hired To Sell Pistons

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

The Pistons have hired a Citigroup subsidiary to broker the sale of the franchise as well as Palace Sports & Entertainment. Karen Davidson, current Pistons Owner, announced last month that the team was officially for sale.

According to reports, there are several interested parties and the NBA is keeping tabs on the situation.

In other Pistons news, forward Chris Wilcox has exercised his $3 million player option to remain with Detroit for the upcoming 2010-11 NBA season. With the team expected to select a power forward or center in this month's 2010 NBA Draft, it's quite possible Wilcox will be shopped on the trading block if he were included in a potential package with other veteran players as the Pistons look to continue their youth movement.

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Pistons Keep Pick No. 7

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

The Pistons missed out on a top three selection during the NBA's 2010 Draft Lottery, so Detroit maintains its position with the No. 7 pick in next month's 2010 NBA Draft.

The bad news is that the team would've won the No. 2 overall draft pick had it won its tiebreaker with the Philadelphia 76ers, who had just as much of a chance as the Pistons to win a spot in the top three. Instead, it's the Sixers who will have the second selection in the draft.

In all likelihood, the Pistons will look to select a big man. With the seventh pick, the team's most likely going to be able to choose between Cole Aldrich of Kansas, Ed Davis of North Carolina and Greg Monroe of Georgetown.

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NBA Draft Lottery Tonight

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

This year's NBA Draft Lottery is being held tonight and will be televised live on ESPN. The lottery show will begin at 7 p.m. followed by the drawing itself starting around 8.

The Pistons have an 18.3 percent chance of landing a top-three draft pick. Detroit is currently slated at the seventh pick, which they would keep if they don't earn a top-three selection unless a team below them moves up.

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Prince Added To U.S. National Team

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

Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince is rejoining USA Basketball. He was one of four players added to the U.S. national team, who will hold its training camp in Las Vegas July 19-23.

Prince was a reserve on the 2008 squad that took gold in Beijing. Despite experienced an injury plagued 2009-10 season with the Pistons, Prince remains valuable to Team USA for his defense and leadership.

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JONAS JEREBKO NAMED TO NBA’S ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The National Basketball Association announced today that forward Jonas Jerebko was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. He is the first Pistons’ rookie since Rodney Stuckey to be tabbed as a second team selection (2008) and the 16th player in franchise history to receive all-rookie team honors.

The T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team also includes New Orleans’ Marcus Thornton, San Antonio’s DeJuan Blair, Oklahoma City’s James Harden and Minnesota’s Jonny Flynn.

“We are pleased that Jonas Jerebko has been recognized as a member of the NBA’s All-Rookie Team,” said Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons. “Jonas did some great things for our team both on and off the court this season and he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Photo by Brian St-Pierre/In Play! Magazine

Jerebko appeared in 80 games (73 starts) averaging 9.3 points (.481 FG, .313 3FG), 6.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.99 steals in 27.9 minutes per game. Among NBA rookie leaders he ranked third in rebounds (6.0 rpg), fourth in blocks (0.36 bpg), fifth in minutes (27.9 mpg), eighth in steals (0.99 spg) 10th in scoring (9.3 ppg) and T18th in assists (0.7 apg). Jerebko’s 73 games as a starter ranked second in franchise history behind Kelly Tripucka and he became the fifth rookie in franchise history to win the Rookie of the Month award (Isiah Thomas, Kelly Tripucka, Grant Hill, Zeljko Rebraca). The 6-foot-10 product from Sweden was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February averaging 10.2 points (.564 FG), 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 13 games.

The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.

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Pistons Already Active This Off-Season

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

As they begin a crucial off-season, the Pistons already appear to be making some changes.

According to reports, Tony Ronzone, Pistons Director of Basketball Operations, will be hired next month as Assistant GM for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In other Pistons news, it was announced on the team's official website that Detroit has relinquished the rights to 2008 second-round draft pick Trent Plaisted. The No. 46 pick that year, Plaisted spent last season playing in Croatia and hopes to catch on with another team's Summer League roster this July.

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BEN GORDON UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL PROCEDURE

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that guard Ben Gordon underwent a successful surgical procedure performed by Dr. Art Manoli to remove bone spurs and loose bodies from his left ankle. The procedure was performed at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, MI.

Gordon’s left ankle will be placed in a cast for three weeks and rehabilitation will begin immediately following removal of the cast. He is expected to make a full recovery prior to the start of training camp in October.

The 6-foot-3 guard appeared in 62 games (17 starts) for the Pistons last season averaging 13.8 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game.

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