Detroit Pistons

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.

The Pistons got Drummond with the ninth pick last year, when they had a lottery selection for third straight NBA Draft.

Kentuckys 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.

Former Detroit Pistons Bad Boy Isiah Thomas continued to keep busy in school after a Hall of Fame playing career and multiple years as a basketball coach. Today, it paid off for him. Thomas graduated with a masters of education from the University of

Discuss Draft Dreams on Twitter using the #DraftDreams hashtag. Info Measurables: 6-foot-11, 215 pounds, freshman center from the University of Kentucky. Key Stats: 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 4.4 blocks per game; shot 59 percent from the field. Projected: Top-5 pick. Random Fact Nerlen’s Noel is probably most known for his shot-blocking acumen and tearing his ACL in a national TV loss to Florida mid-way through the season. What he’s also known for is eraser-top haircut. The dude’s hair rivals Kid from Kid ‘n Play, and when he announced his decision to attend the University of Kentucky last season, he of course did it in the most “look at me” way ever done with hair. Via Deadspin:   Yes, he shaved the UK logo into his head. There’s no joke to make because that is too perfect. Fits with the Pistons because … He’s a really good basketball player. The Pistons may have a developing core group of young frontcourt players, but they still aren’t good enough to pick for need and not value. They should not forgo drafting the best prospect in this draft just because he doesn’t fill an immediate need. Noel doesn’t have a polished offensive game, but at 19, he already has an NBA-ready skill in shot blocking. He’s one of the best pure shot blockers to come out in recent years, perhaps even better than Anthony Davis last year. The difference between Noel and Davis is on the offensive end. Both are mighty thin (Noel is 215 pounds), but Davis has some semblance of a face-up game. Noel’s got very little. He improved as the season went on, and had he not been forced out of action early, he was only going to get better. Perhaps he even can serve as a trade-igniter for the anti-Greg Monroe crowd. But I digress. Doesn’t fit with the Pistons because … He’s still recovering from the torn ACL, and Pistons.com’s Keith Langlois recently reported that Noel hopes to be back ready to go by Christmas. The knee injury shouldn’t scare teams away because he’s a 19-year-old who is ahead of schedule on his rehab. The Pistons need a wing or point guard much more than another big man, even if Noel is just too good to pass up. There are major questions how Noel would play with Andre Drummond, considering both are so similar and, at this point, limited. Offensively, neither has range or the ability to handle the ball, and they might just clog the paint and prevent each other from the lobs they’re so great at finishing. Defensively, both could be elite rim protectors, but if they’re just duplicating that skill, it could leave a void in defending outside the paint. From the Experts Chad Ford: Noel’s season ended on Feb. 12 when he tore his left ACL. However, the injury has done little to hurt his draft stock. Noel has been atop our Big Board all year with the exception of a brief slip to No. 2 after the injury. He has great size and athletic ability, and he proved to be one of the hardest-working players at Kentucky this season. Although his offensive game is a work in progress, he has as much upside as anyone in the draft. We currently project him as the No. 1 player on our board and he goes No. 1 in most mock draft scenarios. DraftExpress: Any discussion about Noel’s potential as a NBA prospect should start with his phenomenal physical attributes. Measured at 6-10 without shoes, with a 7-4 wingspan and exceptional athletic ability, Noel is a rare specimen. He runs the floor like a guard, is extremely nimble and quick, and has pogo stick leaping ability. This allows him to cover ground unbelievably well both vertically and horizontally, which helps him impact the game in numerous ways. It’s safe to say that, should he make a full recovery from his injury as expected, he’ll be one of the most athletic big men in the NBA. What is the best thing Noel does for his team? Glenn Logan (follow his blog on Twitter @ASeaOfBlue) covers the University of Kentucky for A Sea of Blue, SB Nation’s Kentucky

COLUMN: Pistons' freedom to make moves in free agency and trades could be enhanced by saving money in rookie salary slot and staying at No. 7 in a lukewarm lottery.

Former Pistons star stays busy after years of coaching.