Detroit Pistons

Burke wouldn't mind falling to the Pistons at No. 8. "Absolutely, that would be great," he said. "To be able to play for the Pistons, right there in Michigan where I've already played for the Michigan Wolverines, that would be wonderful and I would be looking forward to it." Source So yeah, I haven't posted here in like a year due to some health issues and work stuff, but after seeing that today I had to share it. Is there any way we can move up just a few slots to ensure we get him? I really try to take notice when players make comments about where they want to go, I think they play better when it's a team they want to be on. I think everyone remembers the look of disappointment when Brandon Knight heard his name called on his draft night. I am positive everyone remembers how happy Andre looked on his. The only other player I've heard mention wanting to go to Detroit was Shabazz, due to his friendship with Drummond from playing ball together in the past. I've read several things about Oladipo saying he wanted Portland to trade up for him...weird. Anyway, what do you think we could do to get in there? Or if the Cavs are really shopping that first pick like the rumors say, is there anything we could give them without crippling our starting front court (everyone else is free game in my opinion)? If not them, for some reason I suspect Orlando might be down, after the package they accepted for Howard, I find them to be a bit unpredictable. I'd much rather take a risk on someone who WANTS to be in a Detroit uniform, I know that. Plus I just fucking love Trey Burke and think he's going to be an awesome pro. Sorry if this has already been covered, I'm in Dubai in and out of medical treatment (which wasn't helped by falling in the draft!) so I still miss a few articles people post I am sure. Burke wouldn't mind falling to the Pistons at No. 8. "Absolutely, that would be great," he said. "To be able to play for the Pistons, right there in Michigan where I've already played for the Michigan Wolverines, that would be wonderful and I would be looking forward to it." Source So yeah, I haven't posted here in like a year due to some health issues and work stuff, but after seeing that today I had to share it. Is there any way we can move up just a few slots to ensure we get him? I really try to take notice when players make comments about where they want to go, I think they play better when it's a team they want to be on. I think everyone remembers the look of disappointment when Brandon Knight heard his name called on his draft night. I am positive everyone remembers how happy Andre looked on his. The only other player I've heard mention wanting to go to Detroit was Shabazz, due to his friendship with Drummond from playing ball together in the past. I've read several things about Oladipo saying he wanted Portland to trade up for him...weird. Anyway, what do you think we could do to get in there? Or if the Cavs are really shopping that first pick like the rumors say, is there anything we could give them without crippling our starting front court (everyone else is free game in my opinion)? If not them, for some reason I suspect Orlando might be down, after the package they accepted for Howard, I find them to be a bit unpredictable. I'd much rather take a risk on someone who WANTS to be in a Detroit uniform, I know that. Plus I just fucking love Trey Burke and think he's going to be an awesome pro. Sorry if this has already been covered, I'm in Dubai in and out of medical treatment (which wasn't helped by falling in the draft!) so I still miss a few articles people post I am sure.

Chris Broussard on the Pistons’ coaching vacancy: If Jackson has his way, the prevailing thought around the league is that his protégé Brian Shaw will wind up with the job. On the other hand, sources say Dumars’ top two choices are Nate McMillan and Maurice Cheeks. Dumars also was hoping to make his hire before last week’s NBA draft combine in Chicago, the sources indicated. Considering the Pistons have yet to interview Shaw and are done interviewing new candidates, it seems unlikely Phil Jackson gets his way. Will Joe Dumars get his? He preferred Mike Woodson last time, and Tom Gores overruled him to hire Lawrence Frank. Gores’ late-season statements coupled with his hiring of Jackson has opened plenty of question about Dumars’ status. The coaching hire should tell us plenty about how much power Dumars still holds. 

Burke says he's not sure where he'll be drafted, but he still says playing for the Pistons would be a big honor.

Chris Broussard empties the notebook and examines a potential power play by Phil Jackson in Detroit as summer coaching rumors start to stir in Brooklyn and Los Angeles.

COLUMN: Nate McMillan was the leading candidate at the beginning of the search and remains viable late, while the odd-couple mix of Joe Dumars and Phil Jackson holds intrigue as the process nears its end.

Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: But as the Pistons concluded their interview with Oklahoma City assistant Maurice Cheeks Wednesday, their first face-to-face meeting after phone conversations while the Thunder were still in the playoffs, it appears they won’t be bringing in any more candidates, a source tells The Detroit News. No Brian Shaw. No David Fizdale. No Larry Drew. Considering we don’t know everyone Joe Dumars has interviewed, this news means only so much. But it might indicate the Pistons will hire a coach before the conference finals end – unless they really had no interest in Shaw or Lionel Hollins, anyway.

The Atlanta Hawks are looking for a new coach, even though they have Larry Drew. But they’ve reportedly been very up front with Drew about this and have tried to accommodate him. Chris Vivlamore The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Drew told the Atlanta Journal Constitution Friday that in a meeting with general manager Danny Ferry earlier this week the two came to an amicable agreement to allow the coach to interview for other vacant positions in the league. Drew is a good coach – he went 44-38, 40-26 and 44-38 and won a playoff series with a few transitional rosters – and he’s a former Pistons player. He’s not necessarily the best candidate available, but he might be, and the Pistons should at least talk to him. But, apparently, they can’t do that. Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: Drew’s contract expires at the end of June, but Hawks management hasn’t approached him about an extension and is talking to other teams. Drew doesn’t have the luxury of reaching out to the Pistons and they would need permission from the Hawks to interview him, a different proposition than interviewing a team’s assistant coach. But what about Drew saying he could interview around the league? Goodwill: Heard from Drew’s camp that it’s more complicated than it’s being made to be publicly

Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: The Pistons also formally interviewed former Pistons and Suns interim coach Lindsey Hunter and Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, among others, but haven’t yet talked to Pacers assistant Brian Shaw or Heat assistant David Fizdale, whose teams are still in the playoffs. My skepticism of a Brian Shaw interview, which the Detroit Free Press reported, turned out to be correct. The Pacers have maintained they weren’t giving their assistants permission to interview elsewhere until after the playoffs, and I guess Shaw with the Pistons was no exception. Goodwill previously reported the Pistons wanted to interview both Shaw and Fizdale. It’s not impossible for assistants to interview during the playoffs, but there are definitely hurdles.

The Pistons, according to the Detroit Free Press and mostly reported elsewhere previously, have interviewed: Nate McMillan Lindsey Hunter Mike Budenholzer J.B. Bickerstaff Brian Shaw Maurice Cheeks David Mayo of MLive: While several of the candidates known to have been interviewed are ex-players, Dumars said the search already has exceeded that scope. "That’s not all we’ve talked to," Dumars said. "Those are the names that you guys have gotten. But we’ve talked to a lot more than just ex-players, I’m telling you." Of that group, only Budenholzer and Bickerstaff didn’t play in the NBA. Is Dumars referring to those two? Their interviews were widely reported, so I doubt it. There are plenty of college coaches who didn’t play in the NBA, so I wonder whether one interviewed with the Pistons. Otherwise, I don’t have much to go on to even make guesses.

I took the day off of work to get some stuff done and be ready to get out of dodge for the weekend tomorrow, but instead I found myself watching draftexpress scouting reports on youtube. Being that I didn't want it to be a complete waste of my morning I've decided to post some impressions. As most if not all of you know the videos go over a players strengths and weaknesses making them look both like the best player on the planet and the worst all within 10 minutes. So here are my thoughts on likely Pistons targets: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: The first half, or I should just say the whole video, is comprised of him taking 3's. You'd come away thinking it is the only shot he took all year. You look at the stats and realize he took 8 threes a game, so that's not far off. He shoots 37% on 3's and 42% overall, but because he takes so many 3's, and 37% is actually an above average percentage, he has a phenomenal 59% TS%. His defense and anticipation are as good as advertised. He loves to dunk in transition, but he's pretty horrible around the rim in the half court. He should probably just stick to shooting 3's and playing defense and dunking on the break. Dude can't make a layup in this video to save his life. I have no idea how he shot 50% on 2-point shots. Must have all been dunks in transition. Michael Carter-Williams: He can make all the passes! Over the top, lobs, behind his back, across the court, in mid-air doing somersaults while knotting up his laces. He can make all the steals! On the ball, off the ball, between his legs, standing on his head, you can't get a ball by this man. His defense is pretty good both on and off the ball. He can get into the lane with ease. And then reality hits. For all the amazing passes he makes he takes so many chances that you end up with a highlight of great plays and one of bad plays. He can get into the lane, but he can't do much once he gets there hitting only 42% of his 2-point shots. Also a 26% turnover rate, which is 3rd worst for prospects. 29% 3-point shooter. To say Carter-Williams can't shoot is an exaggeration. C.J. McCollum: Honestly this is just one awesome highlight reel. I can see why Sawyer's likes him. He came into the combine with a 38.5" vertical and you can see it. He really rises up on his shots. He's about a foot or more off the ground when he releases. Pretty impressive. He can drive, lay it up, dunk, fadeaway, finger roll, floater, shoot the 3, get to the line, crossover, dribble, this man is the deadliest offensive weapon in the draft. Hands down. He's like a Curry, Iverson, Ellis all wrapped into one. He has Iverson/Ellis style with the crossover and quick step and ability to get into the lane like there's nobody in front of him, but he has Curry's ability to shoot. He's a machine. He IS NOT a PG. He cannot see open men. He's too geared toward scoring. And for all the agility he shows on offense it's like his feet are stuck in cement on defense. I'm not sure what he's even looking at because the ball handler will have already made one or two steps to get past him before he even turns his hips to make a move. It's like he's one step ahead on offense and one behind on defense. Shabazz Muhammad: 26% of his offense came in transition. He loves to get out and run, and loves to throw it down even more. Definitely an above the rim type player, and when you consider his 6'11" wingspan and 37" vertical at the combine you can see why. The fact that so much offense came in transition on a Ben Howland half-court slow it down team is interesting. The NBA is more open and the tempo is higher in general. People suspect that Howland held him down and I can instantly see what they mean. He can score in the post and he's pretty exceptional taking contact and making the bucket. He can hit the 3. Like KCP he dunks in transition but not on drives. He settles for jumpers or contested layups on his drives and only drives left, as he is left handed. Doesn't pass much. Does