Detroit Pistons Trade Rumors

Pistons Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe to play in rookie-sophomore All-Star game
February 9
Detroit News
 
"The Pistons' last two first-round draft picks will represent the team on the All-Star weekend stage. Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight have been named to the NBA's rookie-sophomore game, which will be played in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 24. Monroe, also a candidate to be an All-Star reserve, is averaging team-highs in points (16.3 ppg) and rebounds (9.9 rpg) in 32.9 minutes per game. Knight, a rookie, is averaging 12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 32.0 minutes."
Source: Pistons sign Stuckey to 3-year, 25M deal
December 17
Detroit News
 
"The Pistons have agreed to terms with restricted free-agent guard Rodney Stuckey, according to sources . Stuckey signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Pistons Saturday. Stuckey was drafted 15th by the Pistons in 2007, averaged 15.5 points and 5.2 assists last season in 70 games (54 starts)."
Busy reshaping roster, Pistons now must decide fate of Rodney Stuckey
December 12
Detroit News
 
"While the Pistons haven't been drawing the national headlines during this free-agency frenzy, they haven't exactly sat idle, either. They've addressed two of their top three priorities with the re-signing of Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko, along with the buyout of Richard Hamilton for a reasonable amount. A source told The Detroit News on Saturday the buyout is in the neighborhood of $8 million. Taking these transactions into account, along with the rookie-scale contracts of Brandon Knight and Vernon Macklin, the Pistons will pay approximately $56 million in player salaries. This season's salary cap is $58 million and the luxury tax kicks in at slightly more than $70 million. Rodney"
Richard Hamilton will join Bulls; Pistons moving on
December 11
Detroit News
 
"Ben Wallace predicted former teammate Richard Hamilton would quickly find a landing spot after being bought out by the Pistons. And Hamilton won't have to go far down Interstate 94 to find it, as he will sign with the Chicago Bulls. The Chicago Tribune reported he will sign a two-year deal worth $10 million. Pistons president Joe Dumars wouldn't confirm the amount of Hamilton's buyout, but it is expected to be in the neighborhood of $8 million of the near $20 he would've been paid if he remained a Piston — or if the team used the amnesty clause. "It's just a verbal agreement right now, so nothing's official," Dumars said. "Once it's official, I can get into detail about why buyout instead"
Rip Hamilton nearing deal with Bulls
December 11
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Derrick Rose said he won't try to persuade Rip Hamilton or any other free agents to join the Bulls. In Hamilton's case, he wouldn't have had to anyway. A deal between the Bulls and Hamilton, one of the prominent players on the Detroit Pistons' 2004 NBA champs, appears imminent, according to multiple reports. Hamilton is expected to sign a two-year contract for about $10 million once his contract officially has been bought out by the Pistons. "That's never been my style," Rose said when asked if he would recruit free agents. "The city and the Chicago Bulls speak for itself. It's a great market, the team is great, we've got the best fans in the world. Every arena we go to we've at least got"
Billups warns teams not to claim him off waivers
December 10
Yahoo! Sports
 
"As Chauncey Billups prepares to have his name entered into the NBA's amnesty waiver wire, he has a message for teams considering putting in a bid to secure him for the rest of the season: You'll regret it. He wants the freedom of free agency to choose a contender, Billups says. As one of the game's great leaders, and gentlemen, Billups warns that player will be a distant memory should a team claim him off the amnesty waiver wire. "I' m tired of being the good guy," Billups told Yahoo! Sports by phone on Saturday afternoon. "I'm tired of being viewed as the guy. After a while, you just kind of get taken advantage of in these situations. I've been known as a leader, and I am a leader, but a"
Joe Dumars turns attention to negotiating Rodney Stuckey deal
December 10
Detroit Free Press
 
"With free agents Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko in the fold, rookies Brandon Knight and Vernon Macklin signed and Rip Hamilton waived, Pistons president Joe Dumars can turn his attention to restricted free agent Rodney Stuckey. The process isn't going smoothly, and there's a chance a team could present an offer sheet, which the Pistons would have three days to match. "There's always a number, but it's way up here," Dumars said as he raised his hand over his head with a laugh when asked whether there was a number the Pistons wouldn't match. Still, Stuckey was noticeably absent from the first day of training camp. But a news item Friday might have an effect on negotiations. The Kings"
Report: Pistons' Rip Hamilton waived, could land spot on Chicago Bulls roster
December 10
Detroit Free Press
 
"It looks like Rip Hamilton will find a landing spot soon. The Chicago Tribune is reporting the Bulls are going to make a move to sign Hamilton before the season begins later this month, according to unnamed sources. Hamilton will be waived as part of a buyout that will rid the Pistons of the one of the heroes of the 2004 NBA championship - but had grown into a giant headache to the organization. The Pistons retain the use of the new collective bargain agreement's amnesty clause which allows teams to waive a player, but still be responsible for his salary – it just wouldn't count against the salary cap. "It's just a verbal agreement right now, so nothing is official right now," Pistons"
Rodney Stuckey absent as contract talks with Pistons go on
December 10
Detroit News
 
"One Piston noticeably absent from the first day of training camp was restricted free-agent guard Rodney Stuckey. After it looked like the Pistons would have all their free agents signed and in camp, Pistons president Joe Dumars had his hands full with Stuckey's agent, Leon Rose, as well as the agent for Richard Hamilton. "We're going through (Stuckey's) first negotiation," Dumars said. "So, ironically, I've been on the phone with Leon Rose. So, first things first (Hamilton)." "The Rip thing took hours and hours to get to. We're going to get together late tonight, back on the phone and pick up with Stuckey." By all accounts, the Pistons consider Stuckey a top priority, especially after"
Pistons buy out Richard Hamilton
December 10
Detroit News
 
"The Richard Hamilton era is over in Motown. Hamilton, the leading playoff scorer in Pistons history, reached a buyout agreement with the team, according to a source. Hamilton was owed a pro-rated $12.6 million this season and 75 percent of the same amount for 2012-13. The Pistons did not have to use the amnesty clause because the buyout was far less than the $20 million he was owed, benefiting both parties. Hamilton is free to pick his own team as opposed to being bid on by teams under the cap, while the Pistons still have the option to use the clause if they so choose. "It's just a verbal agreement right now, so nothing's official," Pistons president Joe Dumars said. "Once it's official,"
Tayshaun Prince, Jonas Jerebko agree to four-year deals with Pistons
December 9
Detroit News
 
"The Pistons were not about to let assets walk for nothing. Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko agreed to four-year deals with the Pistons. Prince's contract is for $27 million and Jerebko signed for $18 million. Prince was an unrestricted free agent and many thought he would seriously consider signing with a contender, but his presence in the practice facility seemed to forecast his return. After last season's finale in Philadelphia, Prince and Richard Hamilton exchanged signed jerseys and it appeared to be an end of an era. After the Los Angeles Clippers made a bid for Prince and he apparently balked, his return was all but sealed. Coach Lawrence Frank has expressed a desire not only for"
Pistons to re-sign Prince to 4-year deal
December 8
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Tayshaun Prince(notes) will sign a four-year, $27 million-plus contract to stay with the Detroit Pistons, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. For the Pistons, convincing Prince to re-sign was the franchise's No. 1 priority, and something of a coup considering the tumultuous past two seasons for him and the longstanding core of veteran players. With the market for starting small forwards thinning, the Pistons would've been in a bind had Prince decided to leave."
Tracy McGrady plans to sign with Hawks
December 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Veteran free agent forward Tracy McGrady plans to sign a one-year contract with the Hawks, according to a person with knowledge of McGrady's intentions. The person did not want to be identified because NBA teams are not allowed to agree to terms until Friday, after the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified by players and owners. However, the person said McGrady told the Hawks he would sign a contract for the veteran's minimum once the rules allow it. McGrady, 32, was the No. 9 overall pick by Toronto in the 1997 draft. He was an All-Star for Orlando and Houston from 2000-01 to 2006-07, but a series of injuries contributed to his steady decline."
Caron Butler, Clippers to meet again
December 6
ESPN.com
 
"Free agent small forward Caron Butler's meeting with the the Los Angeles Clippers went so well Monday night, the two sides decided to talk again on Tuesday morning, according to Butler's agent. "Caron was really happy with the meeting," Butler's agent Raymond Brothers said. "We were really impressed by (general manager) Neil Olshey and (coach) Vinny Del Negro. I think they've got a good young team that can win. Caron had a really good feeling about it." Brothers said that Butler met with the Chicago Bulls Monday morning and still plans to travel to San Antonio to meet with the Spurs Tuesday afternoon. ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan reported Sunday night that he is also expected to meet with"
Source: Caron Butler has 4 meetings set
December 5
ESPN.com
 
"Caron Butler begins a busy week Monday with at least four visits lined up to teams interested in signing the Dallas Mavericks' free-agent forward. Butler will visit with team officials from the Chicago Bulls on Monday morning, followed by trips to sit down with officials from the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday and possibly the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, a source close to the situation confirmed Sunday night. The source said that those teams understand that Butler, 31, is not interested in a one-year contract, the length favored by the Mavs to bring back the nine-year veteran."
Paul's desire destination a longshot, more NBA buzz
December 4
SI.com
 
"Assuming Chris Paul is paying attention to the post-lockout treasure map as he plans an exit from New Orleans, it should be clear by now that the "X" that marks his fortunes is nowhere near New York. The rules of the game have changed, his leverage limited by changes in the soon-to-be ratified collective bargaining agreement that make it far more complicated to maximize his payday while forcing his way to the Big Apple alongside Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. The Knicks' roster beyond the two superstars is anemic, leaving the Hornets with little chance of making Paul's wishes come true while netting the sort of rebuilding pieces they so desperately want in return. The question then"
Tracy McGrady ready to play, but where?
December 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"When the Pistons signed Tracy McGrady to a one-year deal before last season, he told president of basketball operations Joe Dumars that he was going to return to his old form. McGrady told the Free Press on Friday that day is now, and nearly three years removed from microfracture surgery on his left knee, he is back to his seven-time All-Star form. But will Pistons fans watch him try to live up to that proclamation when the regular season begins this month? Or will he be playing for a contender such as the Bulls or Heat? McGrady wouldn't discuss his prospects, saying only that the Pistons have reached out to his agent and he is open to playing anywhere. But he said he is ready to go. "I"
Greg Monroe, rookie Brandon Knight the only constants on Detroit Pistons' post-lockout roster
December 2
Michigan Live
 
"The NBA regular season kicks off in less than a month, and there are few givens about what the Pistons' roster will look like when they take the court in late December. The one and only constant from last season is Greg Monroe. The second-year big man out of Georgetown took little time to solidify himself as the key building block for the organization. After becoming a permanent fixture in the starting lineup in mid-January, Monroe averaged 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds over the final 45 games. The Pistons added to their young core, drafting point guard Brandon Knight out of Kentucky. Because of his age, 20, and shortened training camp, Knight's impact is likely to be limited this season."
Report: Clippers interested in Tayshaun Prince; Kaman could be part of deal
December 2
Detroit News
 
"The Pistons held off on trading forward Tayshaun Prince last season, and it could pay off in the form of Chris Kaman. According to the Los Angeles Times, the L.A. Clippers have reached out to Prince, an unrestricted free agent. Prince is a Compton, Calif., native and could want to return to the West Coast. How does it affect the Pistons? They have Prince's "Larry Bird rights," which means they can sign him to greater annual raises (7.5 percent) compared to him signing with another team outright (4.5 percent raises) At 31, this is likely the last long-term deal Prince will sign, and he won't command the $11.1 million he made with the Pistons last season, the final season of a five-year deal"
Singler passing on NBA to stay in Spain
November 29
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Kyle Singler(notes), the 33rd overall pick in the June NBA draft, has reached agreement with Real Madrid and won't play for the Detroit Pistons this season, agent Greg Lawrence of Wasserman Media Group told Yahoo! Sports. Singler, a forward out of Duke, will sign a contract for the remainder of the season in the Spanish ACB League, replacing the Dallas Mavericks' Rudy Fernandez on the Real Madrid roster. After an outstanding showing with Alicante in the same league – where he averaged a team-leading 15 points on 47 percent shooting – Singler decided to take the Real Madrid offer on Tuesday. A combination of his comfort level in Spain and a salary higher than that of most second-round draft"
Pistons likely to look for big men in free agency
November 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"If free agency indeed starts Dec. 9, the Pistons soon can try to address their seemingly perpetual need for size. There are top-tier post players available in the Mavericks' Tyson Chandler (a previous Pistons target) and the Nuggets' Nene, though it's unlikely the Pistons will be able to afford them. The Celtics' Glen (Big Baby) Davis and the Kings' Samuel Dalembert could be lower-priced options. The Pistons pursued Davis in the summer of 2009."
Pistons' Hamilton is prime candidate to be cut under amnesty clause
November 13
Detroit News
 
"While the NBA lockout doesn't appear to be headed to a conclusion anytime soon, one of the few issues that have been resolved is the amnesty clause. The clause, first introduced in the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement, allows a team to rid itself of one contract without any salary cap hit. The player will become a free agent, but the team is still responsible for paying off his contract. The Pistons certainly aren't in any salary-cap trouble. In 2009-10, they were 27th in payroll; last season, they were 21st. As of now, with Tayshaun Prince coming off the books ($11.1 million), along with Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko being restricted free agents, the Pistons have a little more than"
Pistons' Hamilton is prime candidate to be cut under amnesty clause
November 3
Detroit News
 
"While the NBA lockout doesn't appear to be headed to a conclusion anytime soon, one of the few issues that have been resolved is the amnesty clause. The clause, first introduced in the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement, allows a team to rid itself of one contract without any salary cap hit. The player will become a free agent, but the team is still responsible for paying off his contract. The Pistons certainly aren't in any salary-cap trouble. In 2009-10, they were 27th in payroll; last season, they were 21st."
Ben Wallace pleads guilty to misdemeanors in drunken driving arrest
November 2
Detroit News
 
"Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to two misdemeanor charges in Oakland Circuit Court on a Sept. 24 drunken driving and weapons offense in Bloomfield Township. Wallace, 37, of Bloomfield Hills appeared before Judge Shalina Kumar and entered guilty pleas to charges of driving while intoxicated and possession of a firearm while operating a vehicle when intoxicated. Both charges are misdemeanors that carry a maximum jail sentence of up to 93 days. Under the agreement, assistant prosecutor Rob Novy told Kumar his office had agreed to dismiss a charge of carrying a concealed weapon, a felony that can carry up to five years in prison. "He has no criminal record"
Pistons rookie Brandon Knight suffers ankle injury in Kentucky exhibition
October 26
Detroit Free Press
 
"With the NBA lockout still going on, Brandon Knight found a new job on Tuesday. Nursing a minor ankle sprain, Knight sat out of an exhibition game between former Kentucky and Western Kentucky players but ended up coaching his team. "It was a really fun experience," said Knight, the eighth overall selection by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA draft. "I had a lot of fun coaching and talking to the guys." Knight hurt his ankle in a "Big Blue All-Stars" exhibition played Monday as the last event in a nine-game tour against small Kentucky colleges."
Rodney Stuckey headed to Guangdong?
October 25
ESPN.com
 
"The Guangdong Southern Tigers in China are making a hard push to sign Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. The biggest hurdle for Guangdong to clear, though, is the same hurdle all Chinese teams face when trying to land NBA players: Stuckey, if he signs, would be unable to come back to the NBA until Guangdong's season ends in March, even if the lockout ends before that, thanks to rules instituted this season by the Chinese Basketball Association."
Pistons' Jonas Jerebko '100 percent' recovered from injury
October 13
Detroit News
 
"You'll have to pardon Jonas Jerebko if he rolls his eyes when he's asked about his health. "I'm fine, I'm 100 percent healthy," said the Pistons forward, who partially ruptured his Achilles tendon during the first exhibition last season. "Everywhere I go, that's what people ask me. But I'm fine. I'm just ready for the season to start." NBA matters, however, are a lot murkier than Jerebko's health. Still, with the lockout in full swing and both sides far apart in negotiations, Jerebko was holding out hope an agreement would be reached before games were canceled. But after the first two weeks were canceled, his hopes were dashed. "We knew this was coming," he said."
Hamilton denies report on agent
October 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"There was an interesting development Wednesday as the clock ticked on the deadline for the NBA and the union to reach a collective bargaining agreement that would allow the season to start on time. ESPN's Chris Broussard, citing two sources, reported Pistons shooting guard Rip Hamilton threatened to leave agent Leon Rose because of his participation with a group of agents who are pushing the union to decertify as a weapon in the labor battle."
Source: Don't look for T-Mac in China
October 4
ESPN.com
 
"Even in the event of an extended NBA lockout, don't look for Tracy McGrady to wind up playing in China this season. There's a fresh report in circulation that a deal is "in the works" to land McGrady with Foshan of the Chinese Basketball Association. Such links come as little surprise given the immense popularity McGrady still commands in China after his years in Houston playing alongside Yao Ming. It'd naturally be a coup for any team in the CBA to sign him. However ... A source with knowledge of McGrady's thinking insisted Tuesday to ESPN.com that he's "not playing in China this year no matter what people read.""
Ben Wallace waives drunk driving exam, could avoid jail time
October 4
Detroit News
 
"In a move that might spare him jail time, Detroit Piston Ben Wallace waived his right to a district court exam on drunken driving and weapons offenses Monday, choosing instead to send the matter to Oakland County Circuit Court. In waiving his right to a preliminary exam before 48th District Judge Kimberly Small, Wallace may avoid certain time behind bars. Small has a reputation for sentencing first-time drunken drivers to jail. Wallace's next court date is an Oct. 11 arraignment before Circuit Judge Shalina Kumar, which might be done by mail, his attorney Steven Fishman told reporters outside court Monday. Asked to predict what type of sentence — if any — Wallace could ultimately expect,"
Pistons turn to statistical analysis to stay ahead of game
October 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"SI.com's Zach Lowe spoke with Platinum Equity partner Robert Wentworth in Boston last week. Wentworth was attending a conference on the advanced stats movement in sports. (Platinum Equity founder Tom Gores purchased the Pistons in June.) Here is portion of the Q&A: SI.com: This is what PE firms do to find opportunities and value, right? Wentworth: Yes, to an extent. The advanced stats just ought to be a part of your tool kit. It's equally important to have really solid basketball people, and (Pistons president of basketball operations) Joe Dumars has obviously been in this league for 25-plus years now. He has tremendous basketball intellect. But we're just trying to make sure we use every"
Detroit Piston Ben Wallace faces drunken driving, weapons charges
September 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit Piston Ben Wallace is facing a 5-year felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon after police found an unloaded pistol in a backpack in his car as they arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving Saturday in Bloomfield Township. When officers searched his car, they discovered an unloaded pistol in a backpack in the "passenger compartment" of the vehicle, according to a press release issued by the police department today. Wallace, 37, is expected to appear Oct. 3 for a pre-examination conference in 48th District Court in Bloomfield Township, according to police. He has been arraigned on a 93-day misdemeanor charge of drunken driving and a 5-year-felony charge of carrying a"
When lockout ends, Pistons have tough choices to make
September 22
Detroit News
 
"Whether the NBA lockout ends sooner or later, the Pistons are one of several teams with crucial decisions to make. One could argue the lockout has been a little harder on them than most. So whenever the locks are removed from the practice facility in Auburn Hills, a few things likely will be addressed: Who are the guards? Seems like this has been a top concern since 2009-10. Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon and Will Bynum already made for a crowded backcourt, but the Pistons couldn't — and didn't — pass on Brandon Knight in the draft. They've already tried meshing Gordon and Hamilton — and that didn't work. Depending on the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement,"
Pistons' Austin Daye signs deal to play in Russia
September 22
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit Pistons forward Austin Daye tweeted today that he has signed a deal to play in Russia. He also mentioned he has an out clause to return to the NBA when the lockout is over. Daye started 16 of the 72 games he played last season for the Pistons. He averaged 7.5 points and 3.8 rebounds. He averaged 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 69 games as a rookie the previous season."
Pistons' Lawrence Frank faces tough going as new coach
September 19
Detroit Free Press
 
"Pistons coach Lawrence Frank has the second-most difficult coaching job of all the new NBA head coaches entering next season, according to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News. Deveney ranked the difficulty of the jobs of the six teams that hired new coaches. Only Lakers coach Mike Brown has a tougher road, according to the story. Deveney wrote of the Pistons: "There is some talent on the Pistons' roster, and after watching last year's lackadaisical and injury-riddled season, the record should get better. The problem is, the bulk of the money is being spent in the wrong places -- Charlie Villanueva, Ben Gordon, Richard Hamilton.""
Nets coach Avery Johnson confirms loss of assistant John Loyer to Detroit
September 14
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Assistant coach John Loyer has left the Nets to join Lawrence Frank's coaching staff in Detroit and Sam Mitchell is still on the Nets' staff, for now, Nets coach Avery Johnson said today in an informal sit-down session with reporters at the team's East Rutherford practice facility. "John Loyer is going to Detroit,'' Johnson said. "We'll have Popeye Jones taking John's spot. We'll figure out where we go from there with the rest of the bench.'' Jones was on the Nets' staff last season, but he will now be moved up to the front row of the bench, sitting in Loyer's spot. Mitchell, who was the lead assistant last season, was a candidate for the head coaching job of the Minnesota Timberwolves"
If Nachbar returns to NBA, he'd say "Yo" to Brooklyn
September 13
SheridanHoops.com
 
"Bostjan Nachbar indeed wants to get back into the NBA, and don't be surprised if he ends up in one of three places: New Jersey, Toronto or Detroit. Nachbar, who has been working out for two weeks after having surgery to remove loose cartilage from his ankle, arrived Tuesday in this quaint Lithuanian city to provide color commentary for Slovenian television as his homeland plays in the quarterfinals. He has spent the past three years playing in Russia and Turkey, and there are currently several offers from European teams on the table. But Nachbar wants to see how the NBA lockout plays out before making any kind of commitment, and the 31-year-old would ideally like to spend two or three"
ESPN ranking every NBA player; see where Pistons stand
September 13
Detroit Free Press
 
"When ranking NBA players, you normally cut the list off at the top five or top 10. But what about the top 500? ESPN has enlisted the help of 91 of their writers and analysts to rank every active NBA player -- including the rookies drafted less than three months ago. The list excludes players who have signed contracts overseas that make them ineligible for the upcoming season (lockout pending). According to ESPN, each panelist was asked to rate each player on a scale of zero to 10, considering "the current quality of each player." Fans have been able to have their say on the rankings, since ESPN is releasing the list on Twitter (@NBAonESPN). So far, there have been almost 300 players"
Source: Pistons hire Dee Brown, Roy Rogers as assistants
September 13
Detroit News
 
"Pistons coach Lawrence Frank has made two choices for his coaching staff. Former NBA players Dee Brown and Roy Rogers will sit to Frank's side whenever next season starts, a source confirmed to The Detroit News. Brown, 42, was most recently the head coach and general manager of the Springfield (Mass.) Armor in the NBA Developmental League (NBDL). Brown also coached the WNBA's Orlando Miracle and San Antonio Silver Stars. He's more known for his exploits during the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest, where he won it with his famous no-look dunk."
Pistons draft pick Brandon Knight working out, waiting out lockout
September 13
Detroit News
 
"Brandon Knight knew he was entering the NBA under less-than-ideal circumstances. A lockout went into effect eight days after he was drafted in the first round by the Pistons. So … He hasn't met his new coach, Lawrence Frank, and can't contact him because of the lockout rules. And, he can't get advice from Pistons strength-and-conditioning coach Arnie Kander on how to prepare for the rigors of an 82-game grind. That said, Knight isn't stressing over a deal being reached to salvage a full season. The owners and players met last week and are scheduled to meet again today. "There's no reason to be anxious," said Knight, selected seventh overall out of Kentucky. "It's something I can't"
Pistons' Lawrence Frank has two coaches on his radar
September 8
Detroit Free Press
 
"It looks like new Pistons coach Lawrence Frank is close to picking the four-man staff that will assist him with a rebuilding project. Frank hopes to bring aboard Nets assistant coach John Loyer, who has spent the past two seasons in New Jersey. The news was first reported by the Newark Star-Ledger."
NBA wants 3rd round in draft
September 7
SheridanHoops.com
 
"After an overnight flight connecting through Helsinki, Finland, I bumped into a scout for the Denver Nuggets near the tourist information booth at the quaint little airport here where the second round of EuroBasket is taking place. Whether he knows it or not, he may be here scouting future third-round draft picks. That's right: Third round. SheridanHoops.com has learned that NBA owners have proposed adding a third round to the annual draft, a proposal that the players' union has countered by offering an array of changes to the draft that would help address the owners' desire for more competitive balance."
NBA Lockout Update: Sides are closer than they're saying
September 6
SheridanHoops.com
 
"Here's the dirty little secret about the NBA lockout, despite what both sides — the owners and the players — would have you believe: They are a lot closer to a settlement than most people realize. I know this because I talk regularly with a bunch of important people who tell me important things, and I am going to explain why I believe a settlement will be reached that will not only save the season, but also enable the NBA to have an "all is forgiven" honeymoon period (similar to what the NFL just experienced following its labor settlement) in which the frenzy of free agents signings, trades, training camps and exhibition games will make everyone forget all of the doomsday talk they've been"
Pistons' Rip Hamilton recruited for next exhibition game
September 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"Might Rip Hamilton be the next Piston to play in a high-profile exhibition basketball game? Hamilton is one of the Philadelphia-raised NBA standouts that Phoenix Suns forward and Philly native Hakim Warrick is trying to recruit to play in a game this month in Philadelphia, according to ESPN.com. Pistons forward Austin Daye played in an exhibition this week in Baltimore -- Carmelo Anthony's hometown -- that included Anthony, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul."
Pistons' Austin Daye plays with superstars in exhibition
September 1
Detroit Free Press
 
"Pistons fans might have noticed small forward Austin Daye in highlights of this week's exhibition involving NBA players in Baltimore. The highlights focused on spectacular plays from superstars Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, but Daye also participated in Tuesday's much-hyped event that lured ESPN cameras."
Pistons likely to resume trying to trade Richard Hamilton after lockout
August 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"With the NBA lockout postponing a typical off-season, there is much uncertainty surrounding the Pistons' roster. But you can look at members of the current roster and try to predict what the future holds for each. Rip Hamilton has gone from being a hero in the eyes of Pistons fans who remember the 2004 NBA title to the symbol of all that is wrong with the once-proud franchise. Part of that is performance-related. Last season's scoring average of 14.1 points per game was Hamilton's lowest since his rookie season with the Wizards in 1999-2000. But most of it has been watching Hamilton become a disgruntled Piston. From his clashes with former coaches Michael Curry and John Kuester to the"
Pistons' pick Singler gets deal in Spain
August 23
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Detroit Pistons' draft pick Kyle Singler(notes) has reached agreement on a contract with Alicante of Spain's top professional league, Singler's agent told Yahoo! Sports. Singler's deal with Alicante contains an out clause that will allow him to return to the NBA if the league-imposed lockout ends, said Singler's agent, Greg Lawrence."
Nene says money won't decide his free agency
August 20
CBSSports.com
 
"Nene is arguably the biggest name in free agency. He's a veteran center who's not too old to contribute and yet still mean as all get out in the paint. He's going to be an extremely valuable commodity on the open market, whenever it opens. So naturally, Nene is looking to cash in, right? This is the big final contract before he heads off to build churches in Brazil? That's got to be his biggest priority. Money. Well, Nene says that's not the case. From the Denver Post: Whenever the NBA gets going again, Nene will be a free agent, after opting out of the final year of his Nuggets contract ($11.6 million). He reiterated that it's possible he could return to the Nuggets but suggested"
Next bargaining session coming early September?
August 17
CBSSports.com
 
"It took 46 days for the NBA and its players' union after the lockout began July 1. It didn't go all that well. Rhetoric from both sides ramped up, lawsuits started flying around and most importantly, there wasn't any movement towards the middle. Then David Stern accused the union of cancelling a meeting last week with the union responding that Billy Hunter had been told Stern wasn't going to be available for two weeks. So as you can tell, this is all going just super. But they're finally going to try again sometime in early September, according to Newsday. At this point, the union will host an executive meeting in New York at the end of August. The anticipation is the union and league"