Detroit Pistons

Does anyone know if the Pistons acquired another 1st Rd. pick either this year or next via trade, would they be able to give that to the Bobcats to fulfill the Maggette-Gordon trade? What about choosing to give up this year's pick to Charlotte rather than next? For instance, they get hosed tonight and end up 8th or 9th in the draft. It might make more sense to give up this year's pick in a weak draft class because even if the Pistons draft 15th-20th next year, they might be able to get a better player. Are any of these options contingent on Charlotte's approval? Does anyone know if the Pistons acquired another 1st Rd. pick either this year or next via trade, would they be able to give that to the Bobcats to fulfill the Maggette-Gordon trade? What about choosing to give up this year's pick to Charlotte rather than next? For instance, they get hosed tonight and end up 8th or 9th in the draft. It might make more sense to give up this year's pick in a weak draft class because even if the Pistons draft 15th-20th next year, they might be able to get a better player. Are any of these options contingent on Charlotte's approval?

The last time the Pistons picked seventh overall, where they have the best odds of picking this year (60 percent), they lucked out with Greg Monroe. That's a lottery win in a sense. On Tuesday night we'll find out where they'll pick Thursday, June 27. Time: Tuesday, May 21, 8:30 p.m. ET TV: ESPN Pistons rep: Andre Drummond Odds to winning Team (record) Number of combinations Percent Orlando (20-62) 250 25 Charlotte (21-61) 199 19.9 Cleveland (24-58) 156 15.6 Phoenix (25-57) 119 11.9 New Orleans (27-55) 88 8.8 Sacramento (28-54) 63 6.3 DETROIT PISTONS (29-53) 36 3.6 Washington (29-53) 35 3.5 Minnesota (31-51) 17 1.7 Portland (33-49) 11 1.1 Philadelphia (34-48) 8 0.8 Toronto (34-48) 7 0.7 Mavericks (41-41) 6 0.6 Utah (43-39) 5 0.5 Pistons 1st round draft history (last 10 years): 2012 - No. 9 - Andre Drummond2011 - No. 8 - Brandon Knight 2010 - No. 7 - Greg Monroe 2009 - No. 15 - Austin Daye2008 - No. 29 - D.J. White2007 - No. 15 - Rodney Stuckey 2007 - No. 27 - Arron Afflalo 2006 - No 1st round pick 2005 - No. 26 - Jason Maxiell 2004 - No 1st round pick 2003 - No. 2 - Darko It's going to be easier to get excited about mock drafts once the Pistons learn their exact draft slot this evening, but some of you might like to take a peek at Tom Ziller's latest at the SB Nation mothership. Assuming the Pistons stay at No. 7, he has Detroit picking a certain Michigan point guard: 7. Detroit Pistons: Trey Burke I don't think Jose Calderon will stick around given that a new coach will be in place, Brandon Knight is being turned into a two-guard and Rodney Stuckey is always two seconds from a trade. So, yeah, Burke.

The Pistons will tell you it’s better to be lucky on draft night than on lottery night. Andre Drummond, last year’s pick when the lottery played to form and the Pistons stayed at No. 9, will represent them on stage tonight.

The Detroit Free Press published an un-bylined article called “Pistons’ coaching search: Who’s been interviewed so far.” It contains a chart with several coaches on the market and a column called “Interview.” Maurice Cheeks and Brian Shaw each have a ‘Y’ in their row under the “Interview column.” I have no specific information about whether the Pistons interviewed Cheeks or Shaw, but I’m extremely skeptical. I doubt the Free Press would break news of either interview in a format like this, and neither interview has been reported elsewhere that I’ve seen. Cheeks’ name has been floated a few times by beat writers, but none that I’ve seen have gone as far to report the Pistons are interested. Mostly, the wording has been something along the lines of: Cheeks is believed to be on the Pistons’ radar. I’ve seen no solid reports he’s a candidate, let alone that he’s interviewed. The Pacers have consistently maintained they’d prefer their assistants wait to interview until after Indiana completes it’s playoff run, and there has been no indication Shaw has deviated from that. There was a sourced report the Pistons contacted Shaw about setting up an interview, and though that was often twisted as it spread across the internet, the report didn’t even go as far to say Shaw had agreed to interview at any point. More likely than not, the Free Press chart was compiled by someone who’s not closely following the Pistons’ coaching search – though I’ll acknowledge the slightest chance it was compiled by someone who’s following the Pistons’ coaching search more closely than anyone else. If that’s the case, the Free Press should put a byline on that piece and explain more about sourcing behind the Cheeks and Shaw interviews. Until then, take this with a grain of salt.

McLemore argued at last week's NBA Draft Combine that tonight's lottery shouldn't just be considered a draw for Noel, who is the projected No. 1 overall pick according to most experts.

The Pistons will tell you its better to be lucky on draft night than on lottery night. Andre Drummond, last years pick when the lottery played to form and the Pistons stayed at No. 9, will represent them on stage tonight.

Add another name to the list of potential head coaches for the Detroit Pistons. According to Vince Ellis the Pistons have already interviewed Maurice Cheeks for the head coaching job. Cheeks served as the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers from 2001-05 and the Philadelphia 76ers from 2005-08. He has served as a lead assistant with the Oklahoma City Thunder since the 2009-10 season. Cheeks would fill the mandate of hiring an experienced coach with playoff experience but he's never exactly been considered anything more than average to slightly above average. In his eight seasons as a head coach he has compiled a 284-286 record, achieving three playoff appearances but never getting out of the first round. He has won 50 games or more just once, with the Blazers in 2002-03 in his second year as head coach. Since that time he has never finished above .500. He is, of course, most famously known for this awesome bit of class and grace while coaching in Portland. Not sure it will help him get another job but it is great nonetheless.

Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel and Kansas’ Ben McLemore are considered the top two contenders to become the No. 1 pick. Keith Langlois looks at them and how they might fit with the Pistons as True Blue Pistons launches its 2013 draft preview series.

When news broke ESPN would finally air a much-discussed documentary on the Bad Boys, I was mildly excited. I’m sure, like nearly every episode of the 30 for 30 series, it will be entertaining and informative. But I, and I suspect many Pistons fans, have seen and read so much about the Bad Boys that new information on the topic is lacking. It’s basically repetitive at this point. To be clear, I would enjoy watching an hour of repetitive about those teams, but it’s tough to get too excited about something like that. Well, now I’m excited. Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated wrote about the documentary, and here the top three things he wrote that have me so excited: Three two-hour documentary Two Given the previous collaboration between ESPN Films and NBA Entertainment — they partnered on the brilliant "Once Brothers" and the terrific "The Announcement" — Bad Boys is likely to be one of the better "30 for 30" efforts. (NBA Entertainment also produced the last year’s sensational "Dream Team" documentary for NBA TV.) One Cocoros said he’s already discovered never-before-seen footage of the team inside the locker room before and after games, as well as compelling footage of Chuck Daly’s huddles. "The way this team went about their business kind of mirrored the city — the toughness and the blue-collar work ethic," Cocoros said. "We will look at what was going on in Detroit in the 1980s. There is a lot of parallel to the time period and this film will bring that story to life."

The Pistons’ lottery cycle continues. For the third straight year, the Pistons will send a player they drafted in the previous lottery to represent them in the next one. Greg Monroe was there in 2011 when they got the No. 8 pick that became Brandon Knight, and Knight was there in 2012 to see them get the No. 9 that became Andre Drummond. Now, Drummond will trek to the New York area to see the Pistons likely land the No. 7 or No. 8 pick, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. Hopefully, Nerlens Noel will represent the Pistons at the 2014 lottery. Better yet, hopefully he’ll the Pistons on television for a different reason that night.