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| Pistons Mailbag - Thursday, September 2, 2010 - Page 1 | It's early September, and many NBA teams have the 'gone fishing' signs hanging on their office doors. That makes the time right to answer a few philosophical questions, like this one: What makes for a good owner?
| | Pistons Announce 2010-11 Local Television and Radio Broadcast Schedules | 80 Regular-Season Games Will Air Exclusively On FOX Sports Detroit/FOX Sports Detroit Plus
| | Helping Hand | Rodney Stuckey doesn't know where he'd be if not for the kindness of a woman he now calls his stepmom when he was in danger of falling through the cracks. Now he’s paying it forward, helping 500 underprivileged kids get ready for the school year.
| | Lean and Hungry | Working out and getting up shots has consumed Rodney Stuckey's summer as he looks forward to erasing the frustration of last season, he says in the latest entry of True Blue Pistons.
| | Summer School: Jonas | Pistons.com continues its Summer School series with Jonas Jerebko telling the story of leading the Swedes to the No. 1 spot in their Eurobasket group competition.
| | Rarin' to Go | Charlie Villanueva has been working out practically non-stop since May under Arnie Kander's supervision. He's lighter, leaner, stronger and more explosive - and he's eager to get to training camp to challenge for a starting position.
| | Pistons Mailbag - Monday, August 30, 2010 - Page 1 | Like fans of 28 other NBA teams, the buzz that Carmelo Anthony is actively pushing Denver to trade him has fueled the creative juices in Pistons fans who wonder what it might take to put Anthony in Pistons blue. That and how all the perimeter pieces alrea
| | Settling In | Greg Monroe has found a place to live and knows how to get from home to The Palace - where he'll be spending lots of time between now and the opening of training camp. He's anxious to get started, but happy to have time to get back in top shape.
| | Stuckey Makes Going Back to School Special for 500 Kids | Pistons star Rodney Stuckey is providing 500 pre-identified children ages 5-18 from Orchards Children's Services, a foster care agency, with backpacks and Pistons knit hats as a part of his back to school event.
| | Pistons Mailbag - Thursday, August 26, 2010 - Page 1 | Interest in Tracy McGrady among Mailbag readers continues to run high. Not everybody is sure how he fits or how close he can come to the player who was among the very best in the game, but pretty much all are intrigued by the possibilities.
| | 'Perfect Place' | The sense he could trust what Joe Dumars was selling and his respect for the talent already on board were key factors in luring Tracy McGrady to Detroit. T-Mac tells Keith Langlois that 'people are going to be shocked' by what he shows them this season.
| | Summer School: Greg | Greg Monroe is back in Detroit and will be in the gym this week with Arnie Kander after spending last week at the NBA's rookie orientation program in New York. Check out what the Pistons' No. 1 draft pick learned.
| | Camp Questions | With five weeks to go until training camp gets here, what are the issues that bear monitoring for the Pistons? Keith Langlois has the questions - and takes a stab at the answers - in True Blue Pistons.
| | Pistons Mailbag - Monday, August 23, 2010 - Page 1 | These are the dog days of summer for the NBA - free agents have landed, most trades have played out and GMs head to the golf course or the beach to catch their breath before the merry-go-round starts anew. But Mailbag presses on...
| | X Factor | John Long was 41, 23 years Tracy McGrady's senior, when their careers overlapped briefly as Raptors teammates. Long saw the extraordinary gifts McGrady possessed then and predicted future stardom. Now he says McGrady still has plenty to offer at 31.
| | Pistons Mailbag - Thursday, August 19, 2010 - Page 1 | A few days ago, one of the themes was what the Pistons would do with all the players crammed into the SF and SG positions. Then rumors started that Carmelo Anthony wanted out of Denver, which prompted a flurry of questions about adding yet another SF.
| | Jaw Dropping | When an impromptu dunking exhibition broke out at the NBA's rookie photo shoot in New York earlier this week, Terrico White stole the show from players reputed to be the draft's elite athletes, John Wall and Wesley Johnson among them.
| | Summer School: Coach | Austin Daye was the Pistons' best player in Summer League, at least until a hip injury forced him to sit out the final two games. He's spent his summer in Las Vegas, working out with a focus on adding strength, and the Pistons like what they've seen so fa
| | Eagle Eye | When Joe D has a question about a potential acquisition's physical condition, Arnie Kander is his go-to guy. When he wondered about Tracy McGrady, Kander had a ready answer for him.
| | ‘Chip on My Shoulder' | Tracy McGrady says he doesn’t reveal much emotion when he’s playing, but he keeps things in the back of his mind that motivate him. What will carry in the back of his mind this year when he dons the No. 1 Pistons jersey?
| | Pistons Sign Free Agent Guard/Forward Tracy McGrady |
| | Pistons Mailbag - Monday, August 16, 2010 - Page 1 | Tracy McGrady continues to be the hot topic for Pistons fans and Mailbag readers - what position he'll play, if he'll move into the starting lineup, if he'll be on the floor in the final minute, etc.
| | 'A Lot Left' | Chicago native Will Bynum spent his first summer under the tutelage of esteemed trainer Tim Grover in 2009. Among his gym mates was Tracy McGrady. This summer Bynum saw enough from McGrady to make him believe he still has plenty to offer.
| | Pistons Sign Second Round Draft Selection Terrico White | Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has signed its second round draft selection Terrico White to a contract.
| | ‘Bright, Talented' | Arnie Kander measures athleticism very differently than conventional testing determines, and in his assessment the predraft rap on Greg Monroe couldn't be more incorrect. In fact, he says that Monroe has what it takes to become 'a very special athlete.'
| | Pistons Mailbag - Thursday, August 12, 2010 - Page 1 | Tracy McGrady questions - surprise, surprise - flooded into Mailbag this week with news the Pistons and the seven-time All-Star had agreed to terms for the 2010-11 season. How much he has left, who might get traded, whose minutes will be affected.
| | Banner Motivation | Ben Gordon's debut season with the Pistons didn't go anything like he'd planned. As he rehabs from ankle surgery at the practice facility, his mind wanders to next season and the chance to erase those memories - and his eyes wander to the rafters.
| | Summer School: DaJuan | It might be the off-season for DaJuan Summers, but there hasn't been much "off" about it. After Summer League ended, he spent time in China, then headed back to Las Vegas for more drills and instruction, and returned to Auburn Hills this week.
| | Pistons Schedule Set | Like fans of 28 other NBA teams, most Pistons fans probably will look first for the visits of the Miami Heat. The Pistons get two of them in the 2010-11 season, highlighting a home schedule that again features a healthy dose of weekend games.
| | Win-Win | Fueled by shared motivations, the Pistons and Tracy McGrady - widely reported to have finalized a one-year contract - could prove doubters wrong together, Keith Langlois writes for True Blue Pistons.
| | Pistons Mailbag - Monday, August 9, 2010 - Page 1 | Mailbag's one-week hiatus is over - even the mailman deserves a little break every now and then - but its return comes at a propitious time with the news that the Pistons are weighing the benefits of signing veteran free agent Tracy McGrady.
| | Sky High | The Pistons might not be sure yet whether Terrico White will be best suited to point guard or shooting guard. But they learned a lot about him in Las Vegas and all of it was encouraging – superb athlete, eager learner, quietly confident.
| | Will the Thrill: Part V | Pistons.com today concludes a five-part story that traces Bynum's rise from Chicago playground legend to Pistons fan favorite.
| | Pistons Announce 2010 Preseason Schedule |
| | Will the Thrill: Part IV | Pistons.com today continues a five-part story that traces Bynum's rise from Chicago playground legend to Pistons fan favorite.
| | Pistons Re-Sign Center Ben Wallace | Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has re-signed center Ben Wallace.
| | Quick Study | Detroit has only visited the lottery six times in its 25-year history and hope they don’t add to that anytime soon. If the fruits of their 1st lottery pick since the early days of the Joe D era blossom as they believe Greg Monroe will, they won’t be.
| | Summer School: Coach | As player development coach, Steve Hetzel - brought to the Pistons from Cleveland's staff by John Kuester a year ago - spends most of his time working with the team's young players. This year, that means a lot of hands-on work with Greg Monroe and Terrico
| | Will the Thrill: Part III | Pistons.com today continues a five-part story that traces Bynum's rise from Chicago playground legend to Pistons fan favorite.
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| Pistons Team Report (Yahoo! Sports) | | Adding Tracy McGrady to a roster filled with perimeter players took many people by surprise. Now, Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars must make another move to clear playing time for the former All-Star.
The Pistons already have Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon, Austin Daye and DeJuan Summers, not to mention combo guard Rodney Stuckey, at the shooting guard and small forward positions. McGrady, who was signed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract, will have to show in training camp that he's fully recovered from microfracture surgery to his left knee to get significant time. A trade before the season opener would help his cause, as would an attitude adjustment from a player used to being the primary scorer. McGrady says he's willing to come...
| | Ben Gordon is turning British for the food, guvna (Yahoo! Sports) | Say what you want about the players of Team USA — they're too small, they're too young,...
| | Ranking the small forwards, 20 through 11 (Yahoo! Sports) | As summer winds down and the day-to-day "news" falls flat, BDL will be ranking each NBA position,...
| | Frontrunner to buy Pistons emerges and it's not Mike Ilitch (Yahoo! Sports) | Mike Ilitch, the owner of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, might want to add the Detroit Pistons to his...
| | Ranking the shooting guards, 20 through 11 (Yahoo! Sports) | As summer winds down and the day-to-day "news" falls flat, BDL will be ranking each NBA position,...
| | Ranking the shooting guards, 30 through 21 (Yahoo! Sports) | As summer winds down and the day-to-day "news" falls flat, BDL will be ranking each NBA position,...
| | SL: Karl hopes 'Melo rumors are false; Curry sprains an ankle (Yahoo! Sports) | Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your parmesan garlic...
| | Video: Terrico White wins an impromptu rookie dunk contest (Yahoo! Sports) | We had some fun with the 2010 rookie photo shoot. Similarly, the rookies had some fun at the 2010 rookie photo...
| | Might the retired Rasheed Wallace return in February? (Yahoo! Sports) | The Boston Celtics bought out the contract of 35-year-old Rasheed Wallace earlier this month before he...
| | Ranking the point guards, 30 through 21 (Yahoo! Sports) | As summer winds down and the day-to-day "news" falls flat, BDL will be ranking each NBA position,...
| | Will Magic Johnson be leaving the Lakers? (Yahoo! Sports) | Magic Johnson wants a large piece of an NBA franchise or at the very least the chance to run a front office, but...
| | McGrady ready to revive career in Detroit (AP) | Tracy McGrady doesn't see himself as an old, broken-down basketball player. He's hoping that his free-agent deal with the Detroit Pistons will help him prove that to the NBA. "It's not like I'm 41 or even 35," McGrady said after signing a one-year, $1.3 million contract Monday.
| | Are the Detroit Pistons and their Palace overpriced? (Yahoo! Sports) | If you've got $500 million stuffed into your mattress and you happen to be a big basketball fan, you're...
| | Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony still undecided (Yahoo! Sports) | The Denver Nuggets would love it if forward Carmelo Anthony decided to stick around for a few more years and...
| | Pistons sign 2nd-round pick Terrico White (AP) | The Detroit Pistons have signed Terrico White to a two-year contract. The team announced the signing Friday. White's salary will be $475,000 this season as a rookie and the second year of the deal is not guaranteed. Detroit drafted the Mississippi guard in the second round with the 36th pick overall in June.
| | Pistons see interest from multiple possible buyers (AP) | The company that runs the Detroit Pistons says there has been serious interest from multiple potential buyers. Palace Sports and Entertainment says in a statement Wednesday that it is "pleased at the level" of interest in the NBA team and its related Detroit-area entertainment venues. Mike Ilitch, the Little Caesars pizza mogul who already owns the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings,...
| | Detroit Pistons trading Tayshaun Prince? (Yahoo! Sports) | With Tracy McGrady signing for the veteran's minimum of $1.35 million, the Detroit Pistons have a bit of a...
| | Herrmann looking to return to NBA (Yahoo! Sports) | Small forward Walter Herrmann, who spent last season playing in the Spanish League for Caja Laboral, apparently...
| | Tracy McGrady will be the misfiring Piston in Detroit's jalopy (Yahoo! Sports) | Ever since their resurgence in the mid-2000s, the Detroit Pistons have been known for defense, toughness and a...
| | Sources: McGrady joining Pistons (Yahoo! Sports) | Forward Tracy McGrady, a seven-time NBA All-Star, agrees to a one-year, $1.3 million deal with Detroit.
| | Tigers/Red Wings owner Ilitch wants to buy Pistons (Yahoo! Sports) | Mike Ilitch already owns the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings . Now he wants to make it a trifecta and sit...
| | Red Wings-Tigers owner Ilitch wants to buy Pistons (AP) | Mike Ilitch, the Little Caesars pizza mogul who already owns the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, said Monday that he wants to buy the Detroit Pistons in part to make sure another buyer doesn't move the NBA franchise out of town. The Pistons declined to comment on Ilitch's interest in the team, which Forbes valued at $479 million last year.
| | Suicide lines: Detroit for T-Mac?; Bulls, Noah talk extension (Yahoo! Sports) | Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your seafood risotto with...
| | Pistons signing Tracy McGrady? (Yahoo! Sports) | The Detroit Pistons have some interest in signing veteran swingman Tracy McGrady but haven't offered him a...
| | Isiah Thomas to serve as Knicks' consultant (The Canadian Press) | NEW YORK, N.Y. - Even after losing all those games and an embarrassing sexual harassment lawsuit, Isiah Thomas has a place with the New York Knicks.
| | Suicide lines: Shaq committed to No. 18; Brown back in L.A.? (Yahoo! Sports) | Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your roti prata.
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| ROSTER REPORT | ARRIVALS:
--F Tracy McGrady (free agent from Knicks)
DEPARTURES:
--C Kwame Brown (free agent, signed with Bobcats)
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Terrico White, the team's second-round draft pick, signed a two-year contract to bring the Pistons to the roster limit of 15. That doesn't mean White is a lock to make the roster. White received the league minimum of $475,000 for his rookie season, and his second-year salary is not guaranteed. The Pistons are intrigued by White's explosiveness and athleticism, but he still must prove he can run the point to gain a spot as the No. 3 point guard.
--F Jonas Jerebko has become a national hero in Sweden, and his play at the recent Eurobasket pre-Olympic qualifier only enhanced his status as one of the country's biggest sports stars. Jerebko, who will battle F Charlie Villanueva for the starting power forward job in training camp, averaged 25 points and 12.3 rebounds as the Swedish national team finished 3-1 in the tournament. As a rookie, Jerebko became the first Swedish-born player to start an NBA game.
--F/C Greg Monroe recovered quickly from toe surgery in late July. He has resumed full basketball activities and will spend the weeks leading up to training camp working out at the Pistons' practice facility. Monroe had been nagged by the toe injury since high school and believes the procedure has improved his mobility. Monroe is expected to get playing time at both power forward and center during his rookie season.
 
Rodney Stuckey - Joe Dumars - John Kuester - Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons
| | NOTES, QUOTES | --If the Pistons finish this season below .500, it will be the first time since the mid-1990s they will have endured three consecutive losing seasons. They were 40-42 in 1992-93, 20-62 the following season and 28-54 in 1994-94. They were 39-43 two seasons ago and 27-55 last season.
--C Kwame Brown's disappointing two-year stint with the Pistons officially ended when he signed one-year contract with Charlotte. Despite the Pistons' lack of depth at center, they were not interested in bringing Brown back. Along with his lack of offensive skills, Brown didn't produce the type of energy and hustle plays the Pistons want from their reserves. He appeared in only 48 games last season, averaging 3.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm not one to hide in the closet for a lot of negative things that were said about how I'm done and I can't play anymore, like somebody or God came down and just stole my talent." -- F Tracy McGrady, who signed a one-year contract with the Pistons.
Rodney Stuckey - Joe Dumars - John Kuester - Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons
| | GETTING INSIDE | Adding Tracy McGrady to a roster filled with perimeter players took many people by surprise. Now, Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars must make another move to clear playing time for the former All-Star.
The Pistons already have Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon, Austin Daye and DeJuan Summers, not to mention combo guard Rodney Stuckey, at the shooting guard and small forward positions. McGrady, who was signed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract, will have to show in training camp that he's fully recovered from microfracture surgery to his left knee to get significant time. A trade before the season opener would help his cause, as would an attitude adjustment from a player used to being the primary scorer.
McGrady says he's willing to come off the bench, though there's plenty of skepticism that he will accept being a role player. He still fancies himself as one of the league's premier talents.
"I know I have a lot left in the tank," he said. "That's a good feeling to have when you're a player that's been down for two years and just struggling to get back on your feet and get out and compete."
Division rival Chicago passed on McGrady after working him out in late July because the Bulls didn't believe McGrady would accept a complementary role. Chicago will enter the season as the probable favorite to win the watered-down Central Division. After two consecutive losing seasons, the Pistons felt they had little to lose by giving McGrady a chance to re-establish his worth.
McGrady doesn't feel as if his 26-game audition with New York late last season was a fair representation of his ability. McGrady, who averaged 9.4 points, was still not close to 100 percent physically.
"Back-to-backs were pretty tough for me," he said. "I was a lot heavier. My body wasn't in shape because it was so long of a layoff. It was a time of being discouraged. No question, I'm a lot better now than I was back then."
The Pistons took a similar gamble with Antonio McDyess during the 2004 offseason, and McDyess revived his career after three knee surgeries. They think that strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander can work the same magic with McGrady.
Though McGrady says he doesn't have anything to prove except to himself, he does pay attention to his critics.
"I don't show a lot of emotions, but I have a chip on my shoulder," he said. "I carry things in the back of my mind. That's what really motivates me."
Rodney Stuckey - Joe Dumars - John Kuester - Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons
| | Jordan, Kwame reunited again | The draft decision helped define both men in harsh terms:
Michael Jordan was a failed executive, Kwame Brown a bust as a
player.
Kwame Brown - Michael Jordan - Charlotte Bobcats - Washington Wizards - Sports
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| | NBA free agency buzz: News and rumors | Find all the latest NBA news and rumors right here.
NBA - National Basketball Association - Sport - Basketball - Professional
| | ROSTER REPORT | ARRIVALS: G/F Tracy McGrady (free agent from Knicks)
DEPARTURES: None.
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Terrico White signed a two-year contract with the Pistons, but the second year is not guaranteed. White was the 36th overall pick in this summer's draft out of Mississippi.
--G Will Bynum signed a 3-year contract worth nearly $10 million to remain the team's backup point guard.
Bynum's salary average is on par with free agent deals given this summer to other backup floor leaders such as Luke Ridnour, Chris Duhon, Shaun Livingston and Jordan Farmar, but it's a little more than the Pistons had projected when they entered negotiations. However, they believed Bynum was too much of an offensive spark to lose him.
--F/C Greg Monroe underwent a surgical procedure on his right little toe after the Las Vegas summer league was completed. Monroe had been nagged by the toe injury, which he described as "like a hangnail but worse," since his senior year in high school. Monroe believes the procedure will help with his mobility and in planting his feet on post moves.
--F Charlie Villanueva, a member of the Dominic Republic national team, scored 36 points in the finals of the 10-team Centrobasket championship but Puerto Rico won the title, 89-80. Villanueva asked USA Basketball to release him last year so that he could play for the Dominic Republic, which qualified for the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.
DRAFT PICKS:
--Greg Monroe, PF/C, 6-11, Georgetown (first round, No. 7) -- Coach John Kuester plans to expand his playbook to incorporate a big man with superior passing skills and offensive polish. He'll jump into the rotation and challenge for a starting spot immediately.
--Terrico White, SG, 6-5, Mississippi (second round, No. 36) -- A solid mid-range shooter with superior length, White could become a factor if the Pistons trade Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon or Rodney Stuckey. He could also serve as the No. 3 point guard behind Stuckey and restricted free agent Will Bynum.
Rodney Stuckey - Joe Dumars - John Kuester - Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons
| | NOTES, QUOTES | --G/F Tracy McGrady has joined the Pistons, signing what's been reported to be a one-year contract worth the veteran's minimum. The Pistons, per team policy, did not disclose the terms of the contract.
McGrady, 31, only played 30 games last year with the Rockets and Knicks, averaging 8.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. The Pistons see the seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champ as a low-risk option off the bench.
--Detroit's most impressive non-roster player during summer-league play chose to play overseas rather than compete for a spot during training camp.
Point guard Edgar Sosa, a University of Louisville product, signed a contract with Angelico Biella of Italy. Sosa averaged a modest 6.5 points and 2.8 assists during summer league action, but the Pistons' staff liked the way he picked up the tempo when he entered the game.
Sosa's decision gives second-round pick Terrico White, a combo guard, a better chance at winning a roster spot.
--The Pistons finished 27th last season in free throw shooting, and by bringing back C Ben Wallace, who signed a two-year, $3.8 million contract in early August, they will be hard-pressed to significantly improve in that area. Wallace is the league's all-time worst free throw shooter.
He has averaged 41.7 percent from the foul line during his career. In the last eight seasons, Wallace has never shot better than 43.2 percent from the line. Last season, he made 40.6 percent of his attempts.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I wish we could have gotten more out of them. Both of them will be better this year." -- President of basketball operations Joe Dumars on G Ben Gordon and F Charlie Villanueva, who had disappointing first seasons with Detroit after signing five-year contracts as free agents last season.
Rodney Stuckey - Joe Dumars - John Kuester - Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons
| | GETTING INSIDE | Mike Ilitch stirred up a firestorm of speculation in the Motor City when he said he wanted to buy the Pistons.
Ilitch already owns the Tigers and Red Wings and has talked about building a new arena in downtown Detroit for his perennially strong hockey team. The Tigers already play in Comerica Park, which still is relatively new.
It would make sense, of course, for the Pistons to share that arena with the Wings. They play in the Palace of Auburn Hills, but the trend for at least the last decade has been to put arenas and stadiums right downtown. Ilitch views having the Pistons and Wings in the same facility as a gold mine.
However, it's not as if the Palace is ready for the demolition team. It's debt-free and is considered one of the top assets of Palace Sports & Entertainment, the group that owns the Pistons.
And there's more: Building a new arena in Detroit would be a highly unpopular move given the state of the economy there. The taxpayers have enough trouble just paying for the tickets to the teams' games; they probably wouldn't be too keen on paying for a new arena, too.
--When the Pistons broke training camp a year ago, new head coach John Kuester felt his team was good enough to make the playoffs.
The way this offseason has unfolded, Kuester and the Pistons' front office might have to cling to the same belief. While virtually every other team signed another club's free agent or made a trade, the Pistons took a cautious approach.
President of basketball operations Joe Dumars isn't afraid of making a bold move -- see the Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade, circa November 2008 -- but his efforts to upgrade the roster have been stymied. The second-tier free agents he targeted either got lavish offers or decided to join a contender. He shopped his veterans, particularly Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton, in trades but wasn't offered a proven big man in return.
Dumars tried to acquire Tyson Chandler from Charlotte to bolster his frontcourt, but the Bobcats instead shipped him to Dallas in a three-way deal. Re-signing two of their own free agents, Ben Wallace and Will Bynum, are the only moves that the Pistons have made since the draft.
So the "busy" offseason Dumars promised in June has thus far resulted in a lot of wasted words and phone calls. Unless Dumars' patience is rewarded later this summer, the Pistons will head to camp this season with virtually the same roster they had a year ago.
With a frontcourt addition along the way, the Pistons could still make noise within the LeBron James-less Central Division. They are solid along the perimeter with Prince, Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Rodney Stuckey, Bynum and Austin Daye, which is why Kuester was so high on his club before an injury-wracked season.
Back then, they had no idea what they had in Jonas Jerebko, nor did they have an offensively skilled big man like lottery pick Greg Monroe. The biggest concern now is giving Wallace more help in the middle.
Until his body fills out, Monroe doesn't have the physical strength to play night in and night out at center. The only other option is Chris Wilcox, who is on the roster simply because Dumars gave him a player option on his contract after signing him as a free agent last year. Wilcox came into camp last season as the favorite to win the starting center job and wound up playing just 34 games.
Rodney Stuckey - Joe Dumars - John Kuester - Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons
| | ROSTER REPORT | ARRIVALS: G/F Tracy McGrady (free agent from Knicks)
DEPARTURES: None.
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Terrico White signed a two-year contract with the Pistons, but the second year is not guaranteed. White was the 36th overall pick in this summer's draft out of Mississippi.
--G Will Bynum signed a 3-year contract worth nearly $10 million to remain the team's backup point guard.
Bynum's salary average is on par with free agent deals given this summer to other backup floor leaders such as Luke Ridnour, Chris Duhon, Shaun Livingston and Jordan Farmar, but it's a little more than the Pistons had projected when they entered negotiations. However, they believed Bynum was too much of an offensive spark to lose him.
--F/C Greg Monroe underwent a surgical procedure on his right little toe after the Las Vegas summer league was completed. Monroe had been nagged by the toe injury, which he described as "like a hangnail but worse," since his senior year in high school. Monroe believes the procedure will help with his mobility and in planting his feet on post moves.
--F Charlie Villanueva, a member of the Dominic Republic national team, scored 36 points in the finals of the 10-team Centrobasket championship but Puerto Rico won the title, 89-80. Villanueva asked USA Basketball to release him last year so that he could play for the Dominic Republic, which qualified for the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.
DRAFT PICKS:
--Greg Monroe, PF/C, 6-11, Georgetown (first round, No. 7) -- Coach John Kuester plans to expand his playbook to incorporate a big man with superior passing skills and offensive polish. He'll jump into the rotation and challenge for a starting spot immediately.
--Terrico White, SG, 6-5, Mississippi (second round, No. 36) -- A solid mid-range shooter with superior length, White could become a factor if the Pistons trade Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon or Rodney Stuckey. He could also serve as the No. 3 point guard behind Stuckey and restricted free agent Will Bynum.
Rodney Stuckey - Joe Dumars - John Kuester - Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons
| | NOTES, QUOTES | --G/F Tracy McGrady has joined the Pistons, signing what's been reported to be a one-year contract worth the veteran's minimum. The Pistons, per team policy, did not disclose the terms of the contract.
McGrady, 31, only played 30 games last year with the Rockets and Knicks, averaging 8.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. The Pistons see the seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champ as a low-risk option off the bench.
--Detroit's most impressive non-roster player during summer-league play chose to play overseas rather than compete for a spot during training camp.
Point guard Edgar Sosa, a University of Louisville product, signed a contract with Angelico Biella of Italy. Sosa averaged a modest 6.5 points and 2.8 assists during summer league action, but the Pistons' staff liked the way he picked up the tempo when he entered the game.
Sosa's decision gives second-round pick Terrico White, a combo guard, a better chance at winning a roster spot.
--The Pistons finished 27th last season in free throw shooting, and by bringing back C Ben Wallace, who signed a two-year, $3.8 million contract in early August, they will be hard-pressed to significantly improve in that area. Wallace is the league's all-time worst free throw shooter.
He has averaged 41.7 percent from the foul line during his career. In the last eight seasons, Wallace has never shot better than 43.2 percent from the line. Last season, he made 40.6 percent of his attempts.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I wish we could have gotten more out of them. Both of them will be better this year." -- President of basketball operations Joe Dumars on G Ben Gordon and F Charlie Villanueva, who had disappointing first seasons with Detroit after signing five-year contracts as free agents last season.
Rodney Stuckey - Joe Dumars - John Kuester - Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons
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