Pistons Trade Rumors

"Speculation over Pistons coach Flip Saunders is at a fever pitch. Numerous NBA writers are speculating about the status of the Pistons' embattled coach. One report has the Dallas Mavericks, who fired Avery Johnson Wednesday, interested. Another has the Bulls interested in Pistons assistant Michael Curry."

"Avery Johnson was fired by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, and Mike D’Antoni clung loosely to his job in Phoenix — their fates underscoring that success is no guarantee of security for N.B.A. head coaches. The Mavericks fired Johnson a day after his team was eliminated from the playoffs by the New Orleans Hornets. The Suns also lost their first-round series, to the San Antonio Spurs, amid widespread reports that D’Antoni would be replaced."

"If Walsh waits long enough, the field of qualified candidates could grow in the coming weeks as teams are eliminated from the playoffs. Dallas Coach Avery Johnson could be in jeopardy if the Mavericks lose their first-round series to the New Orleans Hornets. The same goes for Flip Saunders in Detroit and Sam Mitchell in Toronto... Walsh could reach out to three other assistant coaches who interviewed in Indiana last year: Brian Shaw of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person of the Sacramento Kings and Johnny Davis, a former Pacers assistant now with the Memphis Grizzlies."

"Sources said the Bulls called veteran NBA player Mark Jackson, who is the front-runner to land the Knicks job. That Paxson contacted somebody with no prior coaching experience speaks to how open-minded Paxson is—and how open-ended the search could be. Paxson also has assistants on playoff teams like the Celtics' Tom Thibodeau and the Pistons' Michael Curry on his list, which could lengthen the process."

"The Pistons are in talks with Seattle SuperSonics assistant general manager Scott Perry -- who got his start in the Pistons front office -- to replace vice president of basketball operations John Hammond."

"The leading candidate to replace John Hammond as vice president of basketball operations is former Pistons director of player personnel Scott Perry , with the Sonics. The Pistons have asked Sonics general manager Sam Presti for permission to speak to Perry about the opening."

"Various teams have tried in recent years, but it's the Milwaukee Bucks who have managed to lure John Hammond away from the Detroit Pistons to be their new general manager, according to NBA front-office sources. Sources told ESPN.com on Friday that Hammond, pursued in recent years by Portland, Toronto and others after a long and successful run as Joe Dumars' top aide in Detroit, has accepted the Bucks' offer and will be officially introduced as Larry Harris' replacement as early as Monday."

"Pistons vice president of basketball John Hammond is no longer a candidate for the general manager job in Milwaukee. Reports out of Milwaukee that the Pistons would not allow the Bucks to interview Hammond were inaccurate. It was partly Hammond's decision to decline a formal interview. "

"There are national rumblings that Flip Saunders is under a NBA Finals-or-else ultimatum this spring. But that's unlikely if Pistons president Joe Dumars still believes the veteran core of this team still has another season of serious championship contention within it regardless of these playoffs."

"Flip Saunders, who brings his Detroit Pistons to Target Center on Tuesday night to play the Timberwolves, is still considered a future Gophers coach after Tubby Smith decides he's had enough at Minnesota."

"The Racine (Wis.) Journal Times mentions Pistons vice president John Hammond (a.k.a. Joe Dumars' right-hand man) as a candidate for the Bucks' vacancy at general manager. A portion of the article:"

"Though contract negotiations are far from completed, Bronx-born Donnie Walsh is headed to the Garden at season's end to become Knicks president and end the disastrous Isiah Thomas Era... If senior VP Glen Grunwald isn't retained, Walsh is expected to bring in a right-hand man to run the draft, with SI.com reporting Denver GM Mark Warkentien as a strong candidate. Warkentien drafted Zach Randolph in Portland and has a good relationship with him. Kiki Vandeweghe could join that mix, along with Detroit personnel men John Hammond and George David, and San Antonio's Dennis Lindsey all highly regarded."

"NBA teams took note of his 74-point game, for sure. His agent worked the phones, contacting the Pistons, Celtics and Grizzlies, among others. But the article also intimated that Shaw was going to get a tryout with the Pistons. That's not going to happen."

"Did you catch that line in the New York Post last week, speculating that if disgruntled Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury gets bought out, he'd be "a logical fit" with the Pistons because of his relationship with coach Flip Saunders from their days in Minnesota?"

"Stephon Marbury was on bench, perhaps scouting his next club. Detroit is a logical destination if he gets bought out because Marbury and coach Flip Saunders get along. Marbury and Saunders hung out for 10 minutes in the trainer's room of the Detroit locker room after the game."

"The Timberwolves scrapped plans to test-drive a shot-blocking center alongside natural power forward Al Jefferson for the season's remaining games when they waived Theo Ratliff on Friday after buying out the 26 games left on his $11.66 million salary... Ratliff is expected to sign with title contender Detroit when he clears waivers."

"Ratliff left Cleveland before Wolves' game Friday and is expected to sign with the Detroit Pistons if he clears waivers. Players must be waived by 11 tonight to be eligible for another team's playoff roster... Antoine Walker also is seeking a buyout agreement by tonight's deadline and a chance at a fresh start. But considering the Wolves already made an offer that was rejected, don't count on Walker getting his wish. "

"It looks like the Pistons will indeed fill their 15th roster spot with a familiar face. Only it won't be Dale Davis. The Minnesota Timberwolves placed veteran center Theo Ratliff on waivers Thursday night after agreeing to a buyout settlement on the remainder of his $11.6 million contract. "

"The Pistons expect to sign center Theo Ratliff for a prorated portion of the $1.3 million veteran's minimum after he clears waivers Saturday. He can then sign early next week."

"Veteran center Theo Ratliff and the Timberwolves might be on the verge of a contract buyout, two people close to the situation said Thursday. Ratliff told one of the people that he could end up with the Detroit Pistons after the buyout is completed. "

"The word from the Wolves was that they wanted to keep Theo Ratliff around to work with Al Jefferson, but owner Glen Taylor said the team worked out a buyout with Ratliff on Thursday and he will be in another uniform soon."

"Former Piston Dale Davis could re-sign with the Pistons as early as Thursday, according to his agent."

"The Pistons are trying to fill their open roster spot with a veteran frontcourt player. Dale Davis is under consideration, as is Jamaal Magloire , who was released by the Nets. Magloire does not clear waivers until 6 p.m. tonight. "

"To fill the vacant roster spot, Dumars has been looking to add another big man. Former Piston Dale Davis , who hasn't played all season, appears to be the leading candidate."

"League sources confirmed Friday night that the Pistons are targeting ex-Piston Dale Davis and Jamaal Magliore as possible roster additions. Davis, who played with the Pistons last season, has not played with an NBA team since. And Magliore, a former All-Star, was waived by the New Jersey Nets on Friday. "

"Trading little-used center Primoz Brezec to the Toronto Raptors for combo guard Juan Dixon should lead to two things: buying out backup guard Flip Murray and signing a veteran big man, perhaps Dale Davis."

"The trading deadline is less than 24 hours away, and the Detroit Pistons aren't close to making a deal. And despite Wednesday's 103-98 loss to Milwaukee, the team's second loss in as many days, that's unlikely to change. "

"Flip Murray isn't exactly counting the minutes until Thursday's trade deadline, but the anxiety is building."

"If Murray can't be moved, Dumars said he won't necessarily waive him. Coach Flip Saunders said he and Dumars would try to figure out where Murray fits if he stays on the roster."

"Phoenix has a trade exception they acquired from Seattle in the Kurt Thomas trade, but the luxury tax would double the salary of whoever they bring aboard in a deal. That means free agents or other minimum-salary players would be likely targets. Some of the names the team is batting around..."

"Look, I get it. We all get it. Chris Webber wants to be a Piston. He loves his hometown. He wants to win a championship here. He has wanted to do this since he first learned to dunk at the age of 3. That's nice. Really. Good for Chris."

"Adding Webber, which appears to be a longshot for now, likely would require Detroit to trade away one of its players in the final year of his current deal. The most likely candidates are Flip Murray, Brezec or Herrmann."

"It appears Chris Webber will be rejoining the Pistons sooner than later. Webber, a free-agent center, is looking to re-start his basketball career after taking the first half of the season off. "

"SO, VETERAN Chris Webber, currently a free agent, recently said to a Sacramento television station that he'd be back in the NBA in two weeks. This bit of news begs one question: Who cares? Based on reports, the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat are all interested in Webber."

"Nothing has changed on the Chris Webber front, relative to him returning to the Pistons."

"Artest a Piston? Even he thought that's a bit far-fetched. 'I wouldn't consider not playing here,' said Artest, who scored 18 points in the Kings' 100-93 victory and blew kisses to the crowd after several baskets."

"So Chris Webber says he's coming back to the NBA in two weeks, but the former Yellowjacket/Wolverine/Piston won't tell us where. We figure it could be the Pistons -- assuming Joe Dumars can find a taker for Flip Murray, freeing the necessary roster spot -- but more likely, C-Webb will join the Lakers."

"The Pistons have not completely shut the door on bringing Chris Webber back this season, though it's still a long shot."

"So, how long until guard Flip Murray gets traded? He's too good to be watching games in street clothes -- he CAN score the ball -- but it's hard to see how he'll get time going forward with the Pistons. Seems like someone (preferably in the Western Conference) would deal a second-round pick or two to acquire him."

"Agent Aaron Goodwin continues to stump for his out-of-work client, Chris Webber. He reached out to the Sacramento Bee this week, saying, 'He's not retiring this year. He's definitely playing. It's just going to be a matter of where. He'll definitely play, and he'll definitely make a decision within the next few weeks.'"

"Indeed, the C's need a backup for Rajon Rondo, and though Earl Boykins would be the more logical choice, you could do worse a lot worse than The Glove.Meanwhile, all signs point to Chris Webber jumping back into it next month -- probably with Detroit again, now that the Pistons have created some cap space in the Nazr Mohammed deal. But the Celtics and Lakers may also consider putting in a bid for C-Web."

"President Joe Dumars said Saturday that this deal was not made to facilitate any future deal. The chance to get from under Mohammed's contract was motivation enough to do the deal. But there is no denying that the debris has been cleared to re-sign Chris Webber, if the Pistons ever feel the need to."

"That was among the many reasons he was reluctant to put together a trade package to acquire Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who had asked to be traded before the season starting. Several teams including Detroit spoke with the Lakers before the season began to see what their asking price was for Bryant."

"According to a weekend report by ESPN.com's Marc Stein, "Detroit has not ruled out" bringing back ex-Pistons big man Chris Webber later this season."

"Chris Webber: He's still unemployed, and we don't get it... He turned down a lucrative deal in Greece (reportedly two years, $10-12M) because he said he could only play with the Pistons, but that ship sailed when they were unable to move Nazr Mohammed's salary. Still, it's hard to believe the Cavs or Magic can't sell him on the idea of helping them get to June."

"Pistons president Joe Dumars hasn't had a conversation with the Lakers about Kobe Bryant since before training camp. Dumars made a call to the Lakers when he first heard that Bryant might be available."

"No actual trade was discussed, but because it's obvious that for any trade package from the Pistons to work financially and basketball-wise it would almost have to include Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, those are the names that continue to churn in the rumor mill. Dumars has not had any discussion with the Lakers about Bryant since before training camp. "

"It has been reported by several media outlets that free-agent forward Chris Webber would only consider his hometown Detroit Pistons. According to a source close to Webber, though, he would also consider signing with the Cavs if the role was right."

"When speculation centered in the off-season on the Pistons' moving at least one guy from their veteran championship core, the most frequently mentioned name was Hamilton. He not only had a trade-friendly contract (an average of $10.5 million over the next three years), but he was the signed Pistons' starter in highest demand because he has two All-Star appearances before his 30th birthday."