Just one play before, Klay Thompson (30 points on 11-12 shooting) tied the game up at 119-all with one second left on the clock. Bey responded with an off-balance triple to stun the Warriors.

The former Villanova Wildcat scored 17 points on 6-17 shooting from the field and 4-10 from beyond the arc, including his game-winner to sink Golden State. Bey also contributed three rebounds and two steals off the bench.

“It was tough, I don’t even remember I kind of blacked out a little bit,” Bey said, per ESPN. “I had one second, so I didn’t have that much time to think, so I had to shoot it, so I’m just grateful it went in.”

SADDIQ BEY. GAME WINNER.#TissotBuzzerBeater | #TimingEmotions pic.twitter.com/JiIYbiNKQI

— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2023

Bey has knocked down two game-winning three’s in his career, and both came in January. Bey hit an overtime game-winner to sink the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 1, 2022.

The post Watch: Saddiq Bey’s Buzzer-Beater Shock the Golden State Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

The Pistons acquired Bagley at the trade deadline last season and signed him to a three-year deal over the summer.

Marvin Bagley III will reportedly miss an indefinite amount of time after suffering an undisclosed right-hand injury, per NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Bagley III is averaging 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Pistons.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 3, 2023

Woj reported that Bagley would undergo further testing to determine his next steps to return to the team. Bagley is averaging 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds on 53.7 percent shooting for a Detroit team already without Cade Cunningham, who suffered a shin injury that ultimately needed season-ending surgery to repair.

The post Marvin Bagley III Out Six Weeks After Successful Hand Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

Through 30 games, the rookie out of Purdue has established that his elite athleticism is his greatest gift, and until he can harness it just a bit more, it will lead to some struggles as he learns the NBA. He can’t blow by defenders like he did in high school and college. Now he has to learn how to change speeds and harness his lethal first step to shoot outside the paint.

“You watch him the open floor, and he’s dangerous,” Pistons head coach Willie Green said per The Athletic. “He’ll continue to develop his shot. He’ll get better as time progresses. That’s just how those guys are.”

Luckily for Ivey, there is confidence in Detroit and from coaches around the NBA that Ivey possesses the work ethic needed to become a pivotal centerpiece to the Pistons returning to relevancy. Within Detroit, Ivey works out with Pistons assistant coach Rex Kalamian and player development coach Jordan Brink after practice to improve his mid-range game.

The gains haven’t been immediate, but Detroit and Ivey know that the mid-range addition to his bag will force opponents to defend him honestly and will be a crucial counter against teams clogging the paint when Ivey drives to the rim. Conversely, Ivey has swiftly helped Detroit get to the free-throw line more often. As of Tuesday, the Pistons rank no. 1 in free-throw attempts per game, and Ivey ranks fourth on the roster in free throws per game, third among all rookies with 4.2.

“He plays with a fearlessness, from the outside looking in,” Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff said.” And it’s one of those things where, if you continue to put in the work when you have that mindset, you have an opportunity to be a really good player, and I think he does.”

The development and improvement will come as Ivey continues to work on his game. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley saw that Ivey is “a very serious kid about his work.” He noticed this trait when the Magic hosted pre-draft workouts and interviews with Ivey.

“Sitting down and talking to him a little bit, he’s a very serious kid about his work,” said Mosley, whose Orlando team, the holder of the No. 1 pick, worked out and interviewed Ivey during the pre-draft process. “You respect that. You enjoy that. To see someone who takes their craft seriously. Being one of those guys who is going to be the first in the gym and last out of the gym. He’s got a basketball mind and just wants to work.”

Clippers head coach Ty Lue said Ivey has been “amazing” during his rookie year. He has also noticed that Ivey’s aforementioned pressure on the rim helps tip games in Detroit’s favor. The former champ believes that the problems Ivey will face come from “just understanding the NBA game,” and compared the former lottery pick to Russell Westbrook, specifically comparing how they get downhill and stay in attack mode.

“At the point guard position, more than anything, just understanding the NBA game,” Lue said when asked about the big problem young guards faces. “What (Ivey) does every single night? He plays hard, he attacks, and he gets downhill. Soon, he’ll see, ‘OK, I have to get a mid-range shot. Now, I have to improve my 3-point shooting.’ That’ll open up everything for him. The change of pace, change of speeds … he’ll get that. Right now, he’s a lot like Westbrook when he came into the game — getting downhill, attacking.

Thus far, Ivey is averaging 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game on 41.2 percent shooting from the field and 31.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The post Head Coaches Around the NBA Praise Jaden Ivey’s Impact on Detroit appeared first on SLAM.

Cade Cunningham will have season-ending surgery on his shin.

Know he’ll be back better than ever. (via @wojespn) pic.twitter.com/d6Qmj2hl3v

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 12, 2022

Cunningham has been out of action since Nov. 9. The Slam 238 cover star took a month off to see if rest and rehab would help his shin heal but decided to undergo the season-ending surgery after he consulted with multiple doctors in recent weeks and ultimately decided in collaboration with Detroit and his reps that receiving surgery would be his best choice.

Detroit vs Everybody is the motto.

Cade Cunningham covers SLAM 238. https://t.co/P0L78ZkhIu pic.twitter.com/hqxiGN8J1r

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 26, 2022

Cunningham is expected to be fully healed from the procedure ahead of training camp in 2023-24, according to Woj.

Cunningham averaged 19.9 points. 6.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on 41.5 percent shooting from the field and 27.9 percent from beyond the arc. The former No. 1 overall pick finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting last season but finished third behind Scottie Barnes and Evan Mobley. Cunningham did end up being named to the first-team All-Rookie team last season.

The post REPORT: Cade Cunningham Undergoing Season-Ending Shin Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

The 21-year-old point guard dropped 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to help the Detroit Pistons outlast the Mavericks 131-125. Hayes’ late takeover is a part of the momentum he’s built over the last few weeks. Over Detroit’s last 13 games. Hayes is knocking down 37.5 percent of his long-distance shots and 48 percent of his midrange looks, according to NBA.com.

“It feels good,” Hayes said, per The Athletic. “to be in a sport where things start working for you.

Killian Hayes closed it out for the @DetroitPistons.. dropping 14 of his 22 PTS in 4th and OT, including the bucket to seal the win!

@iam_killian: 22 PTS (10/13 FGM), 8 AST pic.twitter.com/pNPNBavpMh

— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2022

Hayes is averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 assists per game over that same span. It’s a positive development for a young player who is still looking to break out and showcase why the Pistons selected him seventh in the 2021 NBA Draft. Over the summer, the Detroit coaching staff and shooting consultants helped Hayes change his jump-shot release.

Although the results of that offseason work to improve his game weren’t immediate, Hayes ultimately trusted his work and kept stacking good days so he could have strong stretches as he has over the last 13 games. For any hooper selected that high in the draft facing the kind of scrutiny slow-burning lottery picks like Hayes deal with, it would be understandable if his confidence wavered, even on the nights he had solid outings.

“He heard the noise,” Dwane Casey said. “It’s unfortunate that we have the internet, for that reason. He heard the noise. I wish he had my mentality. I don’t even look at it. He probably felt like he had to score, and he doesn’t. He’s our best playmaker. He’s our best point guard. He’s the best defender on the point guards. That’s what we need from him first.”

Him.#Pistons | @iam_killian https://t.co/oFgq86fWwO pic.twitter.com/t0nKDFC00Q

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 2, 2022

Hayes’ recent stretch can help him grow beyond what he’s become through the first two seasons of his career, Detroit’s best passer and point-of-attack defender. Yes, those abilities are essential, and having talented players with that kind of role is crucial to team success and staying power in the League. But those are also skills that are easy to look over on a team led by exciting players like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Saddiq Bey.

“The things he does, the intangibles, he doesn’t have to score to impact the game,” Bey said. “When he does score, it’s icing on the cake.”

“No matter what the perception on the outside is, what he gets with us in film sessions and practice, we continue to tell him to play his game. We know how much he contributes, and it might not always show up on the stat sheet. Like I said before, him just scoring and showing more of what he can do on a broader scale just helps everybody. Everyone inside knows what he brings to the table.”

The next step for Hayes will be to prove that his hot streak is sustainable beyond three weeks. He’s also gotta improve his finishing at the rim. He doesn’t have to be a finished product at 21-years-old, but over the past month, he’s shown that he’s growing into a better play.

Casey believes that Hayes is “growing at the right pace at the right time.” As the head coach of the Pistons and the person most responsible for utilizing Hayes in the best possible way, his faith and patience in Hayes will go a long way to determine Hayes’ career success.

“He’s not growing on anyone else’s watch. He’s going at his pace, his speed,” Casey said. “That’s what young players do. Everyone wants him to be that 10-year vet, but what, he’s in Year 3? That’s why it’s not surprising me. We just have to be patient. Unfortunately, this league isn’t full of patience. It’s about winning games. But he is growing right before our eyes.”

The post Dwane Casey: Killian Hayes ‘Heard the Noise’ and Responded with 4th Quarter Dominance appeared first on SLAM.

Bogdanovic has scored over 20 points in his last three appearances and is shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 50.9 percent from deep for the season. Although the season is just beginning, it is a great sign to see Bogdanovic shooting lights out early and with great confidence.

Bogdanovic’s stellar shooting made him a huge trade target for other teams, and that specific skill was vital in many of the Utah Jazz‘s playoff runs these past few years.

You could tell that Bogdanovic is worth every penny to the Pistons, as his most recent offensive masterpiece helped to lead the Pistons to their second win of the season against the reigning champs, the Golden State Warriors. Bogdanovic finished with 21 points, three rebounds, and three assists on 5-8 shooting from the field and shot 50 percent (3-6) from three on Sunday.

Cade + Bojan = @BELFORGroup | #AssistOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/N9TfqUd5Ba

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 30, 2022

After being in rebuild mode these last few years, it seems like the Detroit Pistons are turning the corner. By making moves like drafting former OSU standout and SLAM 238 cover star Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, extending Bogdanovic, and adding an explosively offensive rookie Jaden Ivey, along with keeping defensive pressure with Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, the Pistons seem to have certainly put their foot on the gas this year.

Detroit vs Everybody is the motto.

Cade Cunningham covers SLAM 238. https://t.co/P0L78ZkhIu pic.twitter.com/hqxiGN8J1r

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 26, 2022

Earlier this season, Cunningham said he was confident that the Pistons could “turn the corner.” Although the season has not gotten off to the best of starts for this young Pistons squad, there is still plenty of time left in the season to turn things around. That win against the Warriors proves that this Pistons team has what it takes to play and win against any team they face. They are scrappy, hungry, talented, and young, which is a great combination.

The post REPORT: Bojan Bogdanovic and Detroit Agree On A Two-Year Extension appeared first on SLAM.

Stewart is the kind of blue-collar, hard hat-wearing center that becomes a fan favorite and an integral part of any team’s long-term success. Coach Dwane Casey already sees it, calling Stewart “the fiber of our team” who has “the toughness that you want to have,” the kind of toughness “Detroit stands for — he’s that.”

Casey first saw those qualities in practices shortly after Stewart got drafted 16th in the 2020 draft. Stewart showcased a physical presence that was hard to ignore. As a rookie looking to break into the League, Stewart went 100 percent during practice.

On a team that features All-Star potential in Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, a do-it-all forward that owns a franchise record for three-point shooting in Saddiq Bey, and the exciting talent of Jalen Duren, it may come as a surprise that Stewart is viewed as the essential key to how successful Detroit can be. When Troy Weaver put this team together, he knew that Stewart checked off those intangibles all teams want in a glue/enforcer-type player.

“I just want to continue to be that heart and soul, be that backbone of this team,” Stewart said per NBA.com. “Try to lead by example every day.”

Cade’s dish to Stew for the earns the very first Assist of the Week honors this season pic.twitter.com/5DclehNk45

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 23, 2022

At 21-years-old, Stewart has made sure to become a guiding light for Jalen Duren. The two are workout patterns cultivating their big-man skills under the tutelage of former All-Star sharpshooter Rashard Lewis.

Stewart and Bey are known for setting the tone in Detroit with their outstanding work ethic. Their work behind the scenes has inspired Weaver and Casey to believe that Stewart is more than an undersized post player that doesn’t do the typical things modern big-man is expected to do.

“It is kind of crazy,” Stewart said of his overnight ascension to leadership. “But time flies, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m thankful I get to help the young guys out. I was in their shoes coming into the league once.”

“I just want to continue to be that heart and soul, be that backbone of this team”. Isaiah Stewart on what he wants to be for the #Pistons this year.@Keith_Langlois article: https://t.co/lYDG8YJy3L

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 24, 2022

However, as a stater, Stewart has been able to hold his own against more prominent and more experienced centers while becoming one of the best pick-and-roll defenders due to his lateral quickness allowing him to lock down speedy guards. Because he’s so physical, Stewart doesn’t match up with many centers willing to bang with him, and this season he’s knocked 3-14 triples.

With that rapid involvement in mind and that Stewart has embraced being a mentor to younger players, it’s no surprise that Detroit is confident in him.

“He still has a ceiling because he’s grown so much since he first got here,” Casey said. “His entire game – his ballhandling, his passing, his feel for the game, his defensive feel. He’s growing. The great thing for our organization is he’s not a finished product.”

The post Isaiah Stewart Embracing ‘Heart and Soul’ Role For the Pistons appeared first on SLAM.

The future is now. @SLAMGoods

Duke star Paolo Banchero covers SLAM 235. https://t.co/kS5ofhOhar pic.twitter.com/7jxHZQWUpv

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 10, 2021

Banchero recorded a monster debut stat line with 27 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. The No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft became the first rookie to record a 25-5-5 statline in his first game since LeBron James in 2003. Additionally, the guard scored the most points by a No. 1 overall pick since Allen Iverson in 1996 and scored the most points by a Magic player in his first career game in team history. 

“It means a lot, I guess,” Banchero said after the game, per ESPN. “Obviously, would have liked to win. But I just wanted to play hard, play for the team, and that happened, so it’s a blessing.” 

The 19-year-old Duke product joins an esteemed company of LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and the previous “most points by a Magic player in his first career game” record holders: Penny Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dwight Howard.

Banchero started hot and ended hot. He knocked down Orlando’s first two buckets and finished the first quarter with seven points on 3-3 shooting from the field, and led a Magic comeback that fell short despite scoring 13 points on 5-8 shooting in the fourth. Oh, and he did this: 

Banchero passed all credit to his teammates.

“Credit to my teammates for finding me. It’s always nice to see the ball get in that early, get easy buckets around the rim. That’s how I try to play, inside out. Try to get easy stuff around the basket and expand out and do more stuff throughout the game.”

Jalen Suggs, who finished the game with 21 points and four triples, including an 18-point surge in the third quarter, had reciprocal praise for Banchero. 

“He handled himself very well. He got to his spots. He ran in transition. He was physical. He boarded. He made the right play when it was there. Paolo did a fantastic job tonight. We’re going to continue to ride with him, we’re going to continue to grow, and moments like this are important for us. We got to be in this to grow, and he showed us a lot tonight.”

In a Magic-Pistons matchup featuring an abundance of young talent, including Suggs and Pistons guards Cade Cunningham (18 points, 10 assists) and Jaden Ivey (19 points, four assists, three steals), Banchero headed the show with his record-breaking performance.

The post Paolo Banchero Becomes the First Rookie Since LeBron James to Record 25-5-5 in Debut Game appeared first on SLAM.

The Detroit Pistons are likely to waive four-time All-Star Kemba Walker before Monday’s deadline to set regular season roster, sources tell me and @JLEdwardsIII. The move will bring Detroit’s roster to 15 guaranteed spots.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 14, 2022

This was expected to happen sooner or later. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Walker and the Pistons began negotiating a buyout deal immediately after getting traded. 

In 37 games for the Knicks last year, the four-time All-Star guard averaged 11.6 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds on 40.3 percent shooting from the field. Although these were decent numbers, New York Coach Tom Thibodeau took Walker out of the rotation, although he ultimately re-inserted him while the Knicks fought through a COVID outbreak. The Knicks and Walker agreed to sideline the former UConn guard for the year.

The 32-year-old still believes he has a lot more left in the tank, but no team has reached out to him yet.

“As far as closing my career, I’ve got a few more years left, in my opinion,” said Walker in a recent interview with the Boston Globe. “We’ll see. I’m just waiting. (Nobody’s) reached out to me. I’m just waiting.”

Once waivers are cleared, Cardiac Kemba will be a free agent as teams begin finalizing their rosters, with the regular season rapidly approaching next week.

The post REPORT: Detroit Pistons Expected to Waive Kemba Walker appeared first on SLAM.

Cunningham is now entering Year 2 with the franchise and is looking to grow individually and as a teammate. Cunningham’s rookie season started slowly due to injury, but as the season went on, Cunningham began to heat up. When the season was over, Cunningham averaged 17.4 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds while only appearing in 64 games total.

During a recent interview with Andscapes Marc Spears, Cunningham reflected on his first year in the NBA, stating:

“It was tough. I wanted to go through training camp. I wanted to go through preseason and get my early feel before the regular season to fill my game out throughout the league and arenas. Sitting there watching helped my game a lot, mentally especially. I feel like there was a lot of things going on in my mind, but it just kept me poised and really helped me learn about myself and how to keep myself steady and be ready for the next day and ready to go.”

Cunningham’s words and stellar play impressed Pistons Coach Dwayne Casey, who said, “He is just mature,” Casey said. “He has what few players, like Kyle Lowry, have in their career. He’s a born leader. Does he make mistakes like other young players? Yes. But he knows it as soon as he does it. He’s a very smart player. He just has ‘it.’ He is not your typical 21-year-old man.”

Since appearing on the cover of SLAM 238, Cunningham has always been outspoken about wanting to build a special culture in Detroit, which the team has tried to showcase with its recent off-season additions. This past summer, the Pistons added veterans Bojan Bogdanovic, Nerlens Noel, and Alec Burks. The Pistons also have other talented young players to keep an eye on Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey, Marvin Bagley III, and Isaiah Stewart.

However, Detroit’s new additions of talent and veteran leadership could not come without a price, and that price was trading away the key and very well-liked Jerami Grant to the Portland Trailblazers.

Cunningham touched on this, saying the following,

“He was a big part of our team. Letting him go was something that really changed the locker room but made me have to step up and be ready,”

When Cunningham was asked what the goal was, the Oklahoma State product said that he believed the Pistons “can turn the corner.”

Cunningham seems more than ready to lead the Pistons back to the ‘glory days,’ and even former NBA player Jalen Rose believes the Pistons have an ‘All-Star backcourt’ pairing in Ivey and Cunningham as well.

“We can turn the corner,” Cunningham said. “We’ve got a lot of talent in here, a lot of depth. We’re coming together more and more each day. We’re figuring each other out more. It’s an exciting time for us. But the league is tough. The league ain’t easy. So, we’re just taking it day by day and trying to get better each day. If we do that, then playoffs are our goal. We’re trying to get into playoffs and really just see where we can go.”

One thing is certain: there is, without a doubt, a storm brewing over in the Motor City, and it is no longer a quiet one.

The post Cade Cunningham is Confident Detroit Can ‘Turn the Corner’ appeared first on SLAM.

No one knew what had happened or the extent to which Bagley III was hurt. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that an MRI revealed that Bagley suffered a bone bruise and sprained MCL in his right knee. Although the Duke product avoided severe injury, Bagley will miss up to 3-4 weeks.

Sadly, Bagley III now joins the growing list of other NBA players like Lamelo Ball, Marcus Garrett, and Dyson Daniels, who have fallen victim to the injury bug. At the end of the day, no one likes to see or hear about injuries, but they are sadly a part of the game we all love, as always hoping for all the best for Bagley, as the injury rehab process should soon begin here in the next few days.

The post REPORT: Marvin Bagley III to Miss 3-4 Weeks With Sprained MCL appeared first on SLAM.

Utah has been transparent in its desire to jumpstart a rebuild after trading All-Star cornerstones Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert over the summer. Through those trades, Utah acquired plenty of draft capital and some solid talent to build their talent around.

Olynyk averaged a career 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 36.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The veteran stretch-center will be focusing on fulfilling whatever role rookie Coach Will Hardy will assign him. When he was asked about Detroit trading him and Saban Lee to Utah, Olynyk said he was surprised and felt like the trade “came out of nowhere,” but he’s “excited to be a part of this out here.”

“I’m excited — I’m excited to be here, and I’m excited to be a part of this out here,” Olynyk said per the Salt Lake Tribune. “I love the people they have in the front office; I think they have a great direction and plan in place in where they want to get to and want to go and how to get there. I believe in them.”

Kelly Olynyk makes his Jazz intro pic.twitter.com/DYdeYZlMI4

— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) September 27, 2022

Because of Utah’s rebuilding aspirations, Olynyk compared this process to what he went through in Boston with Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, as that Boston team built an Eastern Conference titan after trading Franchise legends Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn.

“It’s crazy because when I got drafted by Boston, we were almost in the exact same situation with Danny that they’re in here right now. You have some older guys with experience, you have some young guys, you got a bunch of draft picks coming in for the next few years, and you’re just trying to get better every single day, whatever that is,” he said. “And in Boston, we had a young first-year coach in Brad [Stevens], and now we have a first-time, young head coach in Will [Hardy]. And I think it’s going to be great for us — everybody’s going to be pulling the rope in the same direction. And that’s how you move things.”

Olynyk also told reporters that he had come to appreciate Hardy and his coaching staff in the days he’s been around the team. He believes that Hardy has a “basketball mind” and is willing to “let guys play free” and allows players to “be themselves on the court.”

“Kelly is a really versatile player. He’s been around the NBA for a while, so he has a lot of just sort of corporate knowledge of how to play in the NBA,” Hardy said. “But he’s a really smart, skilled basketball player. He can play in a couple of different positions on the floor, and just provides us with a lot of intelligence.”

Above all, Olynyk is looking forward to one thing playing with the Jazz

“It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

The post Kelly Olynyk ‘Excited’ to Play in Utah After ‘Out of Nowhere’ Trade appeared first on SLAM.

The guard broke multiple “the youngest ever” records, including becoming the sixth player in NBA history with at least the same total points, assists, and rebounds through the first 64 games of their career as LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Luka Doncic, Oscar Robertson and Alvan Adams. 

Following a historic season, Cunningham looks to continue to build his legacy in Detroit. The 6′ 6″ sophomore added 10-15 pounds of muscle this offseason.

“I didn’t recognize him,” Coach Dwane Casey said per CBS news. “He’s done a really good job with his body.” 

“He looks like a different dude, and that physicality will help him,” Casey added.

Cunningham is committed to winning, and he’s hoping his increased strength will help him decrease his turnovers and maintain a high level of play throughout the season. 

“We have a lot more depth this year,” Cunningham said. “I think it’s realistic to say we’ll have a bunch of locked-in guys that are playing to win. If we do that, the wins will take care of itself.”

The Pistons are seeking redemption this year. Alongside Cunningham, they’ve added Purdue star Jaden Ivey, Memphis center Jalen Duren, and recently acquired sharp-shooter Bojan Bogdanovic. The Pistons open their season on Oct. 19 against the Orlando Magic.

The post Cade Cunningham ‘Looks Like a Different Dude’ After Stellar Rookie Season appeared first on SLAM.

The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a trade to acquire Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 22, 2022

Detroit’s move nets them a veteran scorer that can round out their lineup. Flipping Bogdanovic helps Utah get another center option, a potential point guard off the bench, and fast-tracks their rebuild. Utah has been busy in the trade market after their first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

The early exit prompted Jazz CEO Danny Ainge to do some soul-searching, where he ultimately concluded that Utah would be better off trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert and using the draft capital they acquired to start a rebuild.

Bogdanovic averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 45.5 percent shooting from the field and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.

The post REPORT: Bojan Bogdanovic Headed to Detroit for Kelly Olynk and Saben Lee appeared first on SLAM.

Combine that with the two-way play of Saddiq Bey and the presence of vets like Kemba Walker, Nerlens Noel, and Marvin Bagley III, Detroit could be knocking on the steps of a playoff berth.

Detroit legend Jalen Rose can be counted among the Pistons fan excited to see what the Pistons are capable of. The Fab Five legend was reportedly thrilled about the Pistons drafting Ivery with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 Draft. Ivey’s father, Javin, was born and raised in the city, his grandfather, James, played for the Lions, and his mother, Coach Niele (at Notre Dame), played in the WNBA for the defunct Detroit Shock.

His highest expectations have been saved for Cunningham and Ivey, who he believes will be next in line to continue the tradition of Pistons All-Star backcourts.

“When you talk to me about the Pistons, it made me think about great backcourts,” Rose said at the 12th annual Jalen Rose Leadership Academy Celebrity Golf Classic on Monday at Detroit Golf Club. “There was my biological father, Jimmy Walker, and Dave Bing was an All-Star backcourt in the 70s. And then Bad Boys, Joe Dumars, and Isiah Thomas was an All-Star backcourt, right? How about Chauncey B-B-Billups and Rip Hamilton? An All-Star backcourt. I think we now have another All-Star backcourt in Jaden and Cade Cunningham.”

All the things I like about the Pistons' roster! pic.twitter.com/1pIpLmMFEr

— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) August 22, 2022

Rose compared Cunningham to former Pistons All-Star Grant Hill at this same event last year. Cunningham averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in his first season and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. His leadership on and off the floor quickly endeared him to Detroit’s front office, coaching staff, and locker room. 

“I believe the way Cade not only led and matured on and off the floor last year, and was not only able to create his own shot and be a lot more effective and efficient, just look at the way he played against the Nets, going against (Kevin Durant),” Rose said. “Now for him to have somebody that’s going to make the game easier for him because Ivey’s a blur, he’s been knocking down shots in practice, working really hard. I’m really excited about the potential of our team. I’m excited about the culture that they’re building.”

The Pistons will open their season with a home game against the Orlando Magic.

The post Jalen Rose Believes Pistons Drafted Another ‘All-Star Backcourt’ in Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham appeared first on SLAM.

Coming into his third season in the NBA, Bey has gained a reputation for being quite the gym rat. After his rookie season, Bey went from playing with Team USA Select to participating in the Las Vegas Summer League and then playing all 82 games with the Pistons. Even on his off-nights, Bey frequently spent his free time in Detroit’s practice facility.

The obsession with playing and improving led to a funny exchange between the former Villanova product and Detroit’s coaching staff.

“It was recommended to me by the staff (to take time off),” Bey said with a smile at his end-of-season media availability.

Bey subsequently kicked rocks into the high-altitude environment of Boulder, CO. Bey asked Piston’s video coordinator Aaron Dotson to join him as he had rented a three-story Airbnb. Between their two-a-day workouts, Bey picked up hiking as a hobby, perfect for the mountainous environment he surrounded himself with over the offseason.

“I like being off the grid,” Bey said per The Athletic. “It’s quiet. It’s peaceful.”

Having hiking and fishing as activities, he can get his mind off hooping allows Bey to recharge at least once a week this summer. Bey picked Boulder for basketball reasons; he knew that being in a high-altitude city like Boulder would help improve his conditioning for the 2022-23 season. It doesn’t hurt that he fulfilled the wishes of the powers that be in Detroit by picking up a hobby.

As recently as Monday, Bey says he feels like he’s in the best shape of his life because of Boulder. His workouts have consisted of improving his handle and getting his shot off quicker. Coach Dwane Casey reportedly wants to use Bey more as a pick-and-roll creator going into his third season with Detroit. Because of that, Bey and Dotson have simulated countless pick-and-roll reps.

“He’s such a worker,” Dotson said. “He just wanted a new challenge. The first week we got to the mountains, it was tough.”

Above all, you can’t make Bey stop wanting to go to the gym and put up some shots.

“I’m just always in the gym,” Bey said. “It’s hard for me to find another hobby. This was the best that I could do.”

The post Saddiq Bey Embracing High Altitude Offseason Training in Boulder appeared first on SLAM.

Ivey finished his first professional game with 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists, Stewart posted 13 points and nine rebounds, and Duren followed up with nine points and two blocks.

Ivey and Duren were able to show off some quick chemistry with a tough alley-oop early in the first quarter. Although the former Memphis Tiger was on a minute restriction, the rhythm he and Ivey showcased could be a sign of good things to come as the Summer League rolls on.

Jaden Ivey with the dime to Jalen Duren pic.twitter.com/AUDaJx5ZDH

— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 8, 2022

When Stewart was asked Duren and the impact he had on the court, Stewart said the main takeaway he had was that Duren was just like him when he was 18-years-old, namely being “destructive, blocking everything, and being very physical.”

“Sh*t. That’s what I think when I see (Jalen) Duren. He’s just a massive guy; on top of that, he’s only 18 years old. He reminds me of a bigger version of myself when I was 18, being destructive, blocking everything, and being very physical. He’s good.”

#Pistons Isaiah Stewart: “Sh*#. That’s what I think when I see (Jalen) Duren. He’s just a massive guy; on top of that, he’s only 18 years old. He reminds me of a bigger version of myself when I was 18, being destructive, blocking everything, and being very physical. He’s good.”

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) July 8, 2022

Even though Stewart and Duren are still learning how to play together, he still loves the physicality Duren plays with and is confident they will get to play more ball together in practice and the Summer League.

“I didn’t get a chance to practice with him much, just because the trade through (hadn’t gone through) through (yet), but I’m sure we’re gonna get some bump in, for sure.”

#Pistons Isaiah Stewart on Jalen Duren: “I didn’t get a chance to practice with him much, just because the trade through (hadn’t gone through) through (yet), but I’m sure we’re gonna get some bump in, for sure.”

Isaiah is here for the physicality.

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) July 8, 2022

The Pistons return to action with a Sunday evening contest against the Wizards.

The post Jalen Duren Reminds Isaiah Stewart of ‘a Bigger Version of Myself When I Was 18’ appeared first on SLAM.

Grant is set to make $20.95 million this coming season in the final year of his three-year, $60 million contract that he signed with Detroit in 2020 free agency. In his two seasons in the Motor City, Grant averaged 20.9 points and 4.4 rebounds on 42.8 percent shooting from the field.

With Grant now on the move, Detroit sends his money into a trade exception and gives the team around $43 million in cap space to use in free agency. The pick, initially owned by Milwaukee that Portland traded away is top-four protected, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 2025 first-round pick via Milwaukee is protected Nos. 1-4, sources said. Detroit sends Grant into a $21M trade exception, and Pistons now have $43 million in salary cap space for free agency.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2022

With the acquisition of Grant, the Trailblazers now give Lillard a pick-and-roll partner plus an inside presence that the team has been lacking for some time. If Portland is to hit on their draft pick tomorrow night or trade the pick away for another All-Star, Rip City could reasonably be expected to be back in the Western Conference playoff mix sooner rather than later.

The post REPORT: Pistons Trade Jerami Grant to Portland appeared first on SLAM.

Blazers out on Deandre Ayton, with sights set on other deals, including OG Anunoby. Pacers now may be in mix with Suns. https://t.co/822t9d9Ji1

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 16, 2022

The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly out on Ayton and will instead be in the mix to acquire OG Anunoby. So with the subtraction of the Blazers comes the addition of the Pacers into the mix to talk with the Pacers.

Deandre Ayton addresses contract talks, saying he's "disappointed" a deal hasn't gotten done and he wants to be respected like his peers as ESPN reported last week contract talks were stalled over getting rookie max extension. #Suns pic.twitter.com/XVtj06fojN

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 12, 2021

The “most realistic landing spots” to land Ayton’s services outside Phoenix are Atlanta, Detroit, and Toronto. The three Eastern Conference franchise opportunities can propose enticing sign-and-trade to the Suns front office. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Indiana could offer a sign-and-trade of Ayton for Myles Turner. The two big men share the same representation.

Ayton finished the season averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 59.9 percent shooting from the field.

The post REPORT: Hawks, Pistons, and Raptors Emerge As Biggest Threats to Land Deandre Ayton appeared first on SLAM.

However, it’s still unknown what teams around the League are willing to give up to trade for Grant. Pistons GM Troy Weaver wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about offers he received in January or February. Grant has one more season left on his current deal, and Weaver has the option to extend that contract or, as aforementioned, build a trade package around Grant.

One team that’s been consistent with their desire to pick Grant up is the Trail Blazers. Portland fell to the No. 7 pick in the NBA 2022 Draft and reportedly doesn’t want to embark on a complete rebuild, opting to instead “retool” around Damian Lillard.

Another option for a trade partner is the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks could not follow up on their Eastern Conference Finals run, fizzling out in five games to the Miami Heat in the first-round. Atlanta was reportedly interested in Grant during the regular-season, and according to The Athletic, there still could be some intrigue around acquiring Grant this summer.

Per Hawks beat reporter Chris Kirschner, the Hawks front office would ideally like to add a two-way ball-handler, and Grant fulfills both those roles. Kirschner believes Grant is the best choice because the forward is the most gettable player on the trade market over stars like Zach LaVine or Deandre Ayton, who can only be acquired through sign and trade deals.

Should the Pistons pursue a Grant deal, they could trade Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, and the No. 16 pick in this year’s draft. Although Bogdanovic is the younger player, he’s recently been battling a knee issue that lingered all season but will reportedly be addressing the case over the summer. Meanwhile, Gallinari has a guaranteed $5 million expiring contract that could be waived so that Detroit can create more cap space.

Per Hawks reporter James L. Edwards III, Grant is the type of player both franchises need as a long, two-way wing that can score off the dribble and help them while they’re in win-now mode. He believes that Weaver will move Grant if he gets a “wow” offer like Portland agreeing to move their top-10 pick, believing the Pistons are willing to wait and see if such an offer materializes.

Regardless, it seems like Weaver and Grant will have some exciting options to ponder during the summer. Both Portland and Atlanta could be an ideal fit for a wing that seems ready to contribute to a playoff-contending team.

The post REPORT: Hawks and Trail Blazers Main Leaders to Trade for Jerami Grant appeared first on SLAM.

The NBA announced the decision for NBA Paris 2023 on Tuesday, with the NBA Paris game scheduled for January 19.

The #NBAParis game next season will feature the @chicagobulls and @DetroitPistons at Accor Arena

It will mark the @NBA's first game in France since '91. pic.twitter.com/skcFV4PEDa

— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) May 24, 2022

“It is a great honor to bring Chicago Bulls basketball back to Paris for The NBA Paris Game 2023,” said Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas.

“I know how special this will be for our players, our organization, and our international fanbase. We look forward to representing Chicago overseas and are grateful for the opportunity to do so.”

I think I made a wrong turn, but if I start swimming now I might make it there by January https://t.co/UPIkHFGjvz pic.twitter.com/eQu8ek6V6z

— Benny (@bennythebull) May 24, 2022

The international contest will be played in Accor Arena in Paris. The last time the arena hosted a regular-season League game was a Hornets-Bucks game on January 24, 2020.

This is the third time the Bulls will play a game in Paris in franchise history. Chicago played two preseason games back in 1997. The Pistons will be making their Paris debut in 2023; they have played regular-season games in international waters before, playing in London in 2013 and Mexico City in 2019.

“The Detroit Pistons organization is excited to take on the Chicago Bulls and play our first-ever game in France. Playing a regular-season game in Paris will be a great experience for our players and coaches, and we look forward to showcasing Detroit Basketball to an international audience.” Pistons general manager Troy Weaver said.

The 2023 NBA Paris game will mark the League’s 12th game in Paris since 1991.

The post NBA Announce Bulls and Pistons Will Play in 2023 NBA Paris Game appeared first on SLAM.

“If you watch my game and watch the way I play, you could appreciate all things that I do on the floor. What makes me Rookie of the Year is me being able to do so many things at such a high level,” Cunningham wrote in the diary.

Why should @CadeCunningham_ be the 2022 #NBA Rookie of the Year? The #Pistons star explains in his Rookie Diary in @andscape. https://t.co/EkseeKba2U pic.twitter.com/tmOW5rPWkH

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) April 13, 2022

The former No. 1 overall pick has led first-year players in scoring – dropping 17.4 per game – and ranked second in assists per game with 5.6 dimes, leading to his ranking as the best rookie in the 2021-22 class according to ESPN’s 25 Under 25.

The ’22 Rising Stars MVP continued to garner accolade after accolade throughout the season despite missing a portion of the season with a lingering ankle injury, becoming only the sixth rookie since the NBA merger to average 20-5-5 after the All-Star break.

On Monday, the remaining ballots were filled by NBA Media on their finalists for League awards with the announcement of the awards to take place at the NBA’s award show sometime in June.

The post Cade Cunningham Believes His ‘High Level’ of Play Stamps Him As the Rookie of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

The Pistons have real interest in Jalen Brunson, sources tell @JLEdwardsIII.

The 25-year-old is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

More: https://t.co/BkqIhniINH pic.twitter.com/2cAKwkwFKI

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) April 7, 2022

The former NCAA Champion and Naismith Player of the Year has blossomed in his fourth year in the League, averaging a career-high 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from downtown.

As an upcoming unrestricted free agent, Brunson’s ascension this season has many teams vying for his offensive capabilities and floor general mentality, with the Knicks reportedly in the mix back in late January. An effective secondary ball-handler who can consistently knock down catch-and-shoot treys, the fit of Brunson next to the 6’6 Cunningham could be lethal over the next few years.

Brunson and the Mavericks (50-30) have been clicking on all cylinders as they finish out the regular season, sitting at fourth in the West, facing off against the Trail Blazers on Friday and the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

The post REPORT: Pistons Eyeing Jalen Brunson For Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

Your single season record holder for 3-pointers made!

#SaddiqTrey @BallySportsDET | @SaddiqBey pic.twitter.com/K6aBSerCHZ

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) March 24, 2022

Bey set the record in the fourth quarter knocking down his 192nd three-pointer of the season, one of three that he knocked down during a 10 point, four rebound, and four assists outing.

This historic achievement comes on the heels of his 51 point explosion against the Orlando Magic when Bey shot 10-14 from behind the arc in a 134-120 Pistons win over the Magic. The slumping Pistons have won two games out of their last eight outings on the hardwood.

Saddiq Bey vs ORL

51 Points (21 in 1st)
17/27 Shooting
10 Threes
9 Rebounds
4 Assists
3 Steals

This was the 5th 50-PT game in the NBA over the past 7 days. 8th this month.

pic.twitter.com/1KeEd3v7Xu

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 18, 2022

Bey ranks third on the Pistons in scoring behind Jerami Grant and Cade Cunningham with 16.3 points per game this season for the Pistons, improving on his All-Rookie first-team season average of 12.2 points.

Saddiq has a chance to add to his 3 point totals on Friday night against the Washington Wizards.

The post Saddiq Bey Breaks Allan Houston’s Pistons Single-Season Three-Point Record appeared first on SLAM.

‘He’s rookie of the year’: Cade Cunningham leads #Pistons to first three-game winning streak of season: https://t.co/kwDqmGbAqi

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) March 8, 2022

Led by Cunningham (28 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists) and Jerami Grant (23 points and four rebounds), the Pistons made a comeback late in regulation after a back-and-forth fourth quarter that saw the Hawks and Pistons exchange leads.

“He’s rookie of the year. It’s not even close as far as talent evaluation. I’ve been in it a long time and seen (a lot of) players,” coach Dwane Casey said of Cunningham per Rod Beard of Detroit News.

“The only thing that (voters) can hold against us is we are a young team rebuilding, but talent-wise, he’s the guy that can finish games for you, and that’s what you need in those situations. He’s playing like a 10-year vet, so to get 10 assists and 28 points is big time.”

Cunningham nearly put the game away with 1.6 seconds left after sinking a pair of free throws, but John Collins was fouled on the subsequent inbounds play, but he split the ensuing free throws.

Cunningham took over in the extra period, scoring seven points, including a huge three-pointer to give the Pistons a 107-102 lead. After the Hawks responded with an alley-oop slam from Clint Capela, Cunningham came back with two straight buckets of his own to extend their back to five with just over two minutes to go. Grant then sank his tough fadeaway jumper to extend the lead to 113-107.

“I really like how the Pistons are playing right now. We’re playing really hard and playing for each other, and that’s what’s letting us win some games,” Cunningham said. “I really appreciate my team and my teammates trusting me with the ball, allowing me to get things going.”

The Pistons will look to extend their win streak to four when they host the Bulls on Wednesday.

The post Cade Cunningham Leads the Pistons to Season-High Three-Game Win Streak appeared first on SLAM.

Bagley has averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 51.3% in four games with the Pistons. Sometimes, a clean slate is important for a young player in getting their career back on track. 

The 6-foot-11 forward was recently asked about the trade itself and what it felt like to get that fresh start. 

“I felt like a weight was taken off my back,” Bagley told The Athletic. “I felt like I could have fun playing basketball. Being in a new environment, new facility, new teammates, new faces, I think that’s what I needed. To finally get that, I’m going to make the most of the opportunity.”

It’s not a guarantee that Bagley ever becomes a star at the NBA level like he was projected to be coming out of college. Being the second overall pick comes with high expectations, but now that he’s no longer with the team that selected him that high, perhaps the expectations and pressure can be re-aligned. 

The post Marvin Bagley Reflects on Trade from Kings to Pistons appeared first on SLAM.

Three players from the Cleveland Cavaliers teamed up to participate in the All-Star Skills Challenge. First-time All-Stars, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen teamed up with rookie Evan Mobley, whose star shined brightly in the NBA Rising Stars tournament, took on the Antetokounmpo brothers (Giannis, Thanasis, and Alex) and a team of rookies that consisted of Cade Cunningham, Josh Giddey and Scottie Barnes.

The Skills Challenge received a new look as the NBA revamped All-Star Weekend. The format featured the three teams participating in a competition broken down into three rounds of shooting, passing, and dribbling ability.

Round One (Shooting):

Team Cavs should thank their lucky stars they dominated this part of the competition because the next two rounds were not as kind. The Cavaliers trio played strategically, placing Jarrett Allen first and downsizing to Evan Mobley then Darius Garland. Garland dropped 24 points, outscoring the Antetokounmpos brothers by himself, followed by Mobley with 18.

Evan Mobley and Darius Garland close out the first round of #TacoBellSkills with a show for the Cleveland crowd!

Team @cavs in the lead on TNT pic.twitter.com/5vMS172BPh

— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022

Round Two (Passing):

At this point of the competition, it looked like it was a two-team race between Team Cavs and Team Antetokounmpo despite the smooth execution of the weave to pile up the points by Team Cavs.

“This is poetry right here”

Cavs were in sync during the #TacoBellSkills challenge pic.twitter.com/pGugDBdLCw

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 20, 2022

The Greek Freak turned on the competitive drive that captured him two MVP awards, and his brothers tied Team Rooks at the end of round two. However, Team Antetokounmpo won the tiebreaker to collect 100 points from the passing competition for a tie leading into the skills competition that counted 200 points.

Round Three (Skills competition) and tiebreaker:

The idea of giving 200 points to the winner of the third round made this competition much more exciting. At this point, Team Rooks looked dead in the water when they put up a time of 1:18.5. That time presumably wasn’t fast enough to win the round.

In the end, poor shooting by Team Giannis and slow times by Team Cavs bailed the rookies out, and they took the 200 points to go to the final round. That left Team Giannis and Team Cavs with one shot for a chance to take on the rookies in the final round.

Darius Garland knocks out Team Antetokounmpo

Cavs move on to the final of the #TacoBellSkills pic.twitter.com/mfmkFOftPt

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 20, 2022

In a surprise to some, Giannis did not take the shot, and Thanasis missed to the right. On the other hand, Garland hit his attempt to win the tiebreaker and a trip to the finals.

Final Round (Half-court shot):

The rules were simple, whichever team could make a half-court shot the fastest would be declared the winner of the Skills Challenge. Cade Cunningham knocked down the half-court shot for the rookies to set the bar at 9.9 seconds.

It didn’t take long for Evan Mobley to close the deal for the hometown Cavaliers. The moment became a classic after legendary sharpshooter Reggie Miller screamed, “Cleveland, this is for you!” over the airwaves as the competition concluded.

“CLEVELAND THIS IS FOR YOU!”

Evan Mobley wins the #TacoBellSkills Challenge for Team Cavs pic.twitter.com/hORIPbs6mS

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 20, 2022

The post Cleveland Cavaliers Represents By Taking the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge appeared first on SLAM.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Grant is now considered “unlikely” to be traded in the coming days due to the high asking price from the Pistons front office.

“Despite widespread interest in Jerami Grant… it seems unlikely any rival team will be willing or able to meet Detroit’s lofty asking price of multiple first-round picks,” Fischer wrote.

Fischer reports that Grant has interest from several teams in the league including, “Washington, Los Angeles, Utah, Chicago, Minnesota, and others.”

While it may be unlikely for Grant to be traded before the trade deadline, Fischer adds that Detroit will likely revisit the possibility of moving the forward at the 2022 NBA Draft despite general manager Troy Weaver wishing to keep Grant on the roster during the rebuild.

“Grant has a strong relationship with Piston’s general manager Troy Weaver, and there have been clear indications of Weaver’s interest in keeping Grant entrenched within Detroit’s rebuild, sources said. If Grant is not dealt before the deadline, there remains a strong possibility the Pistons will revisit Grant trade scenarios around the NBA draft,” Fischer wrote.

Grant is on his second season with the Pistons, where he has had arguably the two best seasons of his career despite the Pistons’ poor form. In his two seasons in Detroit, Grant has averaged 21.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in 82 total games.

Over Grant’s eight-year NBA career thus far, he has played for four teams; the Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder. In those eight seasons, Grant has averaged 11.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.

The Pistons have struggled tremendously this season despite Grant’s high scoring average, holding the second-worst record in the NBA of 12-41, only better than the Orlando Magic’s 12-43 record.

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, Feb. 10, at 3:00 p.m. EST.

The post REPORT: Jerami Grant ‘Unlikely’ to be Traded Ahead of Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

On Sunday night, the 6-foot-8 guard posted a triple-double in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the season, he’s now averaging 16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists. 

Although it’s on a rebuilding team, the rookie is leading the Pistons in assists and is second in points per game. In 15 games during the month of January, he’s averaged 17.3 points per contest while shooting 36.5% from beyond the arc. 

Cunningham still has plenty of time to make a case for NBA Rookie of the Year. Early on, Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers seemed to be the favorite, but with each passing game Cunningham continues to climb the ladder. 

The post Rookie Cade Cunningham is Starting to Heat Up appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III, the Pistons have had difficulty attracting trade offers for forward Jerami Grant.

“In regard to Grant and the trade market, I’ve gathered that the offers aren’t pouring in right now. The majority of the chatter and interest you’ve heard in regard to Grant are more conversations than anything concrete. I do expect that to change as the deadline gets closer, but as of now, from my understanding, not many formal offers have been placed in front of Detroit.”

Grant is coming off a career season for the Pistons in 2020-21, where he averaged career-highs in points per game (22.3) and assists per game (2.8) and started more games than at any point in his career. Grant is still averaging quite a few points so far this season, 20.1 points per game, but is shooting uncharacteristically poor from the field at 41.4 percent shooting from the field and 33.1 percent from the three-point line.

The Pistons are in full-on rebuild mode, with the team currently second to last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-36. Trading Grant will likely be a priority for the Pistons as they continue to acquire assets to build around rookie guard Cade Cunningham.

The Pistons had already tried to get involved in the trade market this season when they accepted a trade with the Denver Nuggets to bring in center Bol Bol, but the transaction was revoked because Bol failed a physical.

Grant is in his eighth season in the NBA, having played previously with the Pistons, Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Philadelphia 76ers.

The NBA trade deadline is just a few weeks away, with teams having until Feb. 10 to make a deal.

The post REPORT: Pistons Struggling to Find Trade Offers for Jerami Grant appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Bol would be out 8-to-12 weeks to undergo surgery on his foot.

Bol was the subject of significant news last week when the Nuggets agreed to send Bol to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a second-round pick and Rodney McGruder. That trade was voided after Bol failed a physical with the Pistons upon arriving.

Charania indicated in his report that the foot injury could be the root cause of the failed physical, though he doesn’t confirm this either.

Bol was the 44th overall pick by the Nuggets in the 2019 NBA Draft out of the University of Oregon after an eye-popping start to his freshman season with the Ducks, before getting hurt after nine games. Through two and a half years in the NBA, Bol has struggled to find playing time.

Bol has played in 53 career games over the past three seasons, putting up career averages of 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. So far this season, Bol has played in 14 games for the Nuggets averaging 5.8 minutes and 2.4 points per game. As a member of the Windy City Bulls, Bol averaged 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game.

The post REPORT: Bol Bol Out for 8-12 Weeks to Undergo Foot Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

During the podcast, Thomas, whose Hall-of-Fame career can serve as inspiration to all, dropped numerous gems. None more important than stating that although nothing compares to being on the court, the life lessons he learned on and off the court helped prepare him for his career.

“The way I grew up learning the game, the game was the game. The game was how you lived, the way you lived, the way you eat, the way you carry yourself. It wasn’t just what went on in between those four lines, as a matter of fact, everything you did outside the four lines helped you prepare for what was going to prepare inside. Learning every aspect of the game and how the business works is what I was thirsty about, curious about, and still is today.”

Thomas was also effusive in praising Durant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry, who he says define the last 15-20 years in the NBA.

“It’s a beautiful thing, when you look at the ’80s, it was Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] and Dr. J, the ’90s was just all Michael [Jordan], right, but when you look at this era, those three guys will be, you know, the guys.”

He even believes that both Durant and James could win when he played in the ’80s and ’90s.

“If you put Kevin Durant in the triple post, and he gets to post up like Jordan posted up in the mid-range and he got to shoot it 30-35 times a night, and we can’t double-team, you win six of them too. The same thing with LeBron, you put LeBron in the mid-post, triple post, back in the ’80s and ’90s and you putting these kinda athletes—we would have no shot at guarding Kevin Durant or LeBron James. We just wouldn’t unless we came and double-teamed and fouled you hard.”

With that, Thomas was also critical of the power analytics has in today’s game:

“I see how so many players can be so much better than what they are allowed to be under this confined system of play that analytics has convinced everybody to play the same way. Analytics may be good in society, analytics in sports only makes everybody conform, and act and think the same way. What makes champions is when they have a different style playing against a different style.

“Anybody who makes it to the NBA, we are really outliers in society. What they’ve done with analytics is taken all the outliers and put them all in one group and say y’all act the same way. If we come to the game and say here’s the formula for winning, you gotta take 30 three-point shots, you gotta get to the line 24 times, you gotta shoot a certain field goal percentage, and with this mathamitical formula, this is how you win—I’m just saying, that’s not how it works.”

The marketing of Analytics in the @nba has convinced coaches and players to “think” and “play” the game the same exact way to achieve accurate measurements. Some players and teams would be better off playing a different style.

— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) December 26, 2021

It wouldn’t be an interview with an NBA legend like Thomas without asking him how he would fare today. Thomas believes that he would “be alright” in today’s League despite being undersized as a 6-1 point guard. He also balked at the notion that his era didn’t have to matchup with long, rangy players.

“In the ’80s, you gotta remember I came in the era when the point guards had all sized up. Everybody was Magic’s size, everybody was 6-7, 6-8, 6-9. So it was Magic Johnson, Reggie Theus, Micheal Ray Richardson, Paul Pressey, Sidney Moncrief, Dennis Johnson. So them the guys I was playing with.”

“So I think I would do alright—and by the way, those guys were able to be physical with me, they were able to hand-check me, they were able to push me. But if it just came down to, did I have enough speed or craftiness to get around somebody and get a shot off and they can’t touch me, they can’t hit me, they can’t hand-check? I think I’d do alright.” 

On the newest episode of #TheETCs, @IsiahThomas joins @KDTrey5 & @bansky to discuss how he would fit into today’s NBA landscape, + much more.

Episode drops Jan. 12 on all podcast platforms. pic.twitter.com/oBuuP6Bs0x

— Boardroom (@boardroom) January 11, 2022

You can hear Thomas’ full interview here.

The post Isiah Thomas Reflects on His Hall-of-Fame Career on ‘The ETCs with Kevin Durant’ Podcast appeared first on SLAM.

Earning compliments for that skill is nothing new for the superstar out of Duke. After the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Brooklyn Nets, 114-108, Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups had nothing but praise for the 29-year-old guard.

“Kyrie is just, he’s a wizard, man,” Billups said per ESPN. “He’s must-see TV. I personally think, as somebody that played the position, I think Kyrie’s the most skilled player that’s ever played that position. Just straight skill. Nothing else. Just straight skill. I think he’s the best that I’ve ever seen at the position, skill-wise. So, obviously, he gives you a ton when he’s playing.”

“His shot-making is incredible,” Billups added. “He’s a better passer than people give him credit for. He’s obviously a willing teammate. He’s not just all about Kyrie. He passes the ball. He’s a champion. He brings championship pedigree to the table. I think he hit maybe the biggest shot that I ever seen in NBA Finals history, that I seen.”

In his second game back since the Nets brought him back as a part-time player, Irving put up 22 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the Nets’ late loss.

Uncle Drew seemed to enjoy hearing the praise the Billups had for him postgame while also saying he respected that it came from a veteran who has accomplished as much as the ’04 Finals MVP has.

“I’m grateful for that,” Irving said. “Coming from him, a championship winner, championship point guard, and it gives me more motivation to continue to write this legacy that I have with incredible teammates. And just continue to raise the level of mastery and just leave a great blueprint for other guys to follow. I know I’m going on 30 years old, I never thought I’d really be in this league to say that — not be in this league, just be at this age where now I’m looked at as a 10-plus year career guy.”

The Nets are now 1-1 in games Irving has played this season. Although it’s a small sample size, questions remain if the Nets and Irving will build chemistry and rhythm together, with Irving only playing road games this season.

Irving and the Nets (25-14) return to action on Wednesday when they take on the Bulls (26-11).

The post Chauncey Billups Has High Praise For Kyrie Irving appeared first on SLAM.

Denver’s Bol Bol trade with Detroit has been voided, sources tell ESPN. The Pistons didn’t pass Bol on his physical with team.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2022

The Nuggets-Pistons trade is off due to Bol Bol failing the Pistons physical according to multiple reports. Had Bol been successfully moved, it would have given the seven-footer a chance to get on the court and fill the Pistons’ need for size and length while they wait for the return of Kelly Olynyk, who is still out indefinitely after suffering a sprained left knee sprain in November.

The transaction was originally reported on Monday.

The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal to acquire l Denver Nuggets’ F Bol Bol for Rodney McGruder and a future second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2022

At one time, Bol Bol, who is the son of the late NBA player Manute Bol, was the 44th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Nuggets and filled with potential and a game full of intrigue. Despite being a fan favorite, he has not cracked the rotation for any consistent minutes. This season, Bol appeared in only 15 games with averages of only 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Bol’s most significant contributions were in the G-League with the Windy City Bulls, where he averaged 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks last season.

With Bol becoming a restricted free agent this summer and with the recent signing of DeMarcus Cousins, the team decided to invest in McGruder, who provides some extra depth in the backcourt to buy more time until Jamal Murray returns from a torn ACL. McGruder is averaging 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds this season.

The post Update: Denver Nuggets Trade Bol Bol To Pistons For Rodney McGruder Voided appeared first on SLAM.

The news comes after Woj reported that Alize Johnson entered health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 early Monday.

The NBA has postponed the Bulls-Pistons game on Tuesday and Bulls-Raptors on Thursday, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 13, 2021

Last season, the League postponed 32 games due to virus related issues. The Bulls have 10 players in COVID-19 protocols, including their two leading scorers Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Chicago was expected to have at least eight healthy players for Tuesday if nobody else entered health and safety protocols.

At least four players, Javonte Green, Coby White, Derozan, and Matt Thomas are reportedly expected to clear protocols and come back this week. LaVine, Derrick Jones Jr., Stanley Johnson, Ayo Dosunmu, Troy Brown Jr. and Johnson are expected to be cleared next week.

Nikola Vucevic recently returned to action after his bout with COVID-19. Chicago has reportedly been testing players and coaches multiple times per day amid the team-wide outbreak. The Bulls are reportedly vaccinted and have not dealt with any severe symptoms.

The Bulls return to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday but will have some time between Tuesday and Sunday to clear protocols and regain their fully healthy roster.

The post NBA Postpones the Chicago Bulls’ Next Two Games appeared first on SLAM.

KD has now surpassed Stephen Curry for the highest single-game scoring performance of the season. In November, Curry dropped 50, hitting nine three-pointers on 14-28 shooting from the field in the Golden State Warriors’ 127-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Most elite scorer of all-time? (via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/yfqhf0UHjp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 13, 2021

The two-time Finals MVP’s performance in the Motor City set the record for most points scored in Little Caesars Arena; Nets teammate and former Piston forward Blake Griffin previously held the record with 50.

With James Harden sitting out of Sunday’s game for rest, the Nets continuously turned to Durant throughout the entirety of his 41 minutes on the court. Durant’s MVP-caliber performance tied him with Caris LeVert and Vince Carter for fifth-most in a single game in Nets history with his seventh all-time 50-piece.

“We’re missing James (Harden), we’re missing Paul Millsap, so I felt like I had to pick up the scoring a little more,” Durant said in his postgame interview. “This team, Detroit, was playing back in the pick and roll, they wasn’t doubling as often as other teams, so I just tried to take advantage.”

The post Kevin Durant Drops 51 Points for Highest Scoring Performance This Season appeared first on SLAM.

To this point in the season, he’s averaged 20.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest. However, he’ll be out for the foreseeable future with a thumb injury.  

As first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Grant has been diagnosed with torn ligaments in his right thumb and will be out indefinitely. He will be re-evaluated in six weeks.

While the Pistons haven’t been great this season, with the worst record in the league, this will only make things worse. As talented as their young core is, Grant is a key member of the roster, and the team’s only player scoring at least 20 points per game. 

Grant is a player that could really raise the ceiling of a contender, meaning Detroit could look to trade him this season for more assets. However, he’ll need to recover from this injury before that’s really an option for them to explore. 

The post REPORT: Jerami Grant Out Indefinitely With Thumb Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard will miss at least 10 days with lower abdominal tendinopathy, team says.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 1, 2021

Lillard’s abdominal injury has been lingering on and off for weeks, missing a November 14 game against the Denver Nuggets and Tuesday’s contest against the Blazers 110-92 win over the Detroit Pistons. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported back in August that Lillard played through the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with an abdominal injury. It has since hampered his production at the start of his 10th season with the Blazers.

Through 20 appearances this season, Lillard is averaging 21.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 35.7 minutes per game on 39.7 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from three-point territory.

In his absence, the Blazers will turn to their 2018 first-round pick Anfernee Simons and Dennis Smith Jr. Simons is averaging a career-high 12.5 points and 2.2 assists on 46.5 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three on 23.6 minutes per game.

The Blazers’ next test without their star guard will be Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs.

The post Damian Lillard to Miss At Least 10 Days Due to Abdominal Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Portland was out three key players; Damian Lillard (abdominal tendinopathy), Norman Powell (right quad contusion), and Nassir Little (left ankle sprain).

In their stead, McCollum bore the weight, dropping 28 points, six assists, four rebounds, and two steals in the Blazers 110-92 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. In his 22nd game with Portland this season, McCollum surpassed Clifford Robinson to become the organization’s 5th all-time leading scorer.

McCollum has now scored 10,425 in his career, needing to score 905 points to overtake Terry Porter, who holds down fourth place with 11,330 points.

Congratulations, @CJMcCollum! pic.twitter.com/x7xIDLYCMC

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 1, 2021

McCollum is averaging 20.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game this season. He’s shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Trail Blazers will host the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night.

The post CJ McCollum Becomes 5th All-Time Leading Scorer in Trail Blazer History appeared first on SLAM.

His 13 points, 12 boards and 10 dimes cemented himself as the youngest player in Detroit Pistons’ history to record a triple-double at 20 years and 57 days old and the 8th-youngest player in the League’s history to do so. Cunningham also joined some elite Detroit company, becoming one of three Pistons rookies to record a triple-double according to StatMuse, alongside Dave DeBusschere and Grant Hill.

Cade Cunningham got loose in the first half vs. the Lakers pic.twitter.com/QNt3dc1Fai

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 22, 2021

With that, Cunningham is in a league of his own as he’s the only Detroit rookie to record a triple-double in the first 11 games of his career, as well as the 13th player to do so in NBA history.

Cunningham had seven assists in the first half, during which the Pistons scored a season-high 68 points.

“I think we made some progress. Now we know we’ve got to close out fourth quarters. I’m happy to see I was able to accomplish [a triple-double]—that’s big-time. But winning the game is even greater than that. I’m still going to go home kind of sour we lost,” Cunningham said postgame.

Using ALL of his seven-foot wingspan against Anthony Davis.@CadeCunningham_ | @DetroitPistons pic.twitter.com/4sV2p7Pwre

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) November 21, 2021

Cunningham and the 4-12 Pistons’ next matchup will be against the Miami Heat at home on Tuesday.

The post Cade Cunningham Becomes Youngest Player in Pistons’ History To Record Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/blyOFowWQ3

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) November 22, 2021

In the League statement clarifying the punishments, the NBA said they gave James a one-game suspension without pay for “recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation.” James was charged with a Flagrant 2 and ejected after swiping Stewart in the face while they fought for rebounding position. This is James’ second ejection in his 19-year career, the first coming in 2017.

Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart will be suspended two games for his role in the roughhousing with LeBron James on Sunday. James was suspended one game.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 22, 2021

The Lakers (9-9) will be forced to play the four-time MVP Wednesday against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The League said the Pistons (4-12) will miss Stewart for two games for “escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.”

Stewart was charged with two technicals for “multiple unsportsmanlike acts during the altercation.” Detroit heads into a back-to-back series against the Heat and Bucks that starts Tuesday.

“It was a tough play with Isaiah,” Pistons head coach Dwane Casey told ESPN. “His eye got cracked all the way open, and he was upset for a reason. So, I don’t think James is a dirty player, but again, it got them going.”

According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, who polled various people in “NBA-related positions” about what the “appropriate response” would be from the League, Pincus reported that many of the responses he received were “all over the map.”

Pincus wrote that “Some speculated James would get one or two games, but a few backed off that notion when reminded the Lakers next play the Knicks in New York on Tuesday.”

The post The League Announces Suspensions for LeBron James and Isaiah Stewart For Roles in On-Court Altercation appeared first on SLAM.

The incident happened at the 9:18 mark in the third quarter.

James and Stewart did not make any comments about the incident after the game, but Lakers power forward Anthony Davis shared his feelings on the incident and how his team came together to support James.

“Everyone in the league knows LeBron’s not a dirty guy,” Davis said via ESPN. “In fact, when he knew he hit him, as soon as he did it, he looked back at him like, ‘Oh, my bad. I didn’t try to do it.'”

“I don’t know what he was trying to do,” he said of Stewart. “But I know nobody on our team, 1 through 15, was having it. We’re going to protect our brother. I’ve never, in 10 years, seen a player try to do that as long as I’ve been playing. … It’s uncalled for. You got a cut above your eye, accidental-like, it wasn’t on purpose. And we weren’t going to allow him to keep charging our brother like that. I don’t know what he was trying to do, but we wasn’t going to allow that.”

AD on the LeBron/Stewart incident: “I don’t know what he was trying to do but I know nobody on our team, 1-15, was having it. We going to protect our brother.” pic.twitter.com/1Edc8XImPe

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 22, 2021

This is the second ejection of James’ 19-year career with the other one happening on Nov. 28, 2017 when the Cavaliers took on the Miami Heat. If he is suspended, he could miss the team’s only scheduled matchup at Madison Square Garden this season.

LeBron James had 10 points in 21 minutes before his ejection.

The post ‘We’re Going to Protect Our Brother’: Anthony Davis on LeBron James-Isaiah Stewart Incident appeared first on SLAM.

“Every game, I feel like I add something to the hard drive and something to my game,” Cunningham said via NBA.com. “I’ve learned so much about me as a person and me as a player since I got to the NBA. It’s promising for me, at least, to stay confident and just believe in myself for the future.”

Cunningham missed the first four games of the season due to a sprained ankle, but his performance against the Kings marks his second 20-plus point game thus far.

The Pistons, who are 3-10 to start the season, will take on the Pacers on Wednesday night.

The post Cade Cunningham Becomes Youngest Player to Post 25/8/8 Stat Line With Five Three-Pointers Made appeared first on SLAM.

The Detroit Pistons (2-8) had just celebrated the return of their top draft pick, Cade Cunningham, to the lineup after missing the entire preseason and a few games with an ankle injury. Now they will have to deal with their new power forward, missing significant time.

 Kelly Olynyk will miss at least six weeks with a sprained left knee that he injured in the fourth quarter of the Pistons’ 112-104 victory over the Houston Rockets this week.

The team announced Thursday that he suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and will be re-evaluated by team medical personnel in six weeks, and updates will be provided when appropriate.

The #Pistons have announced that test results revealed Kelly Olynyk suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee. The injury occurred in Q4 of Wednesday’s game.

Olynyk will be re-evaluated in 6 weeks by team medical staff and further updates will be provided as appropriate.

— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) November 12, 2021

Olynyk was a crucial free-agent signing for the Pistons last offseason, providing stability to the offense with versatility, perimeter shooting, and playmaking. Before the injury, Olynyk was averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 10 games.

According to Rod Beard of the Detroit News, the Pistons are limited in their options in their efforts to fill in Olynyk’s spot on the roster. The team is out of open roster spots to bring in a free agent center such as Aron Baynes or DeMarcus Cousins, and there aren’t many options with their G-League team, the Motor City Cruise.

With Isaiah Stewart as the starter, rookie Luka Garza could get more extensive minutes as the backup center. Another move the Pistons could make is to have Trey Lyles play center in the small-ball lineup.

The injury occurred on an Olynyk foul after he was hit at the knees by a flailing opponent.

Detroit faces the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The post Detroit Pistons Lose Kelly Olynyk For Six Weeks Due to MCL Sprain appeared first on SLAM.

In that limited action, Cunningham struggled a bit from the floor, hitting just one of his eight shot attempts and going 0-for-5 from deep. This shouldn’t be concerning, as many players struggle offensively in their first ever NBA game. 

The box score doesn’t tell the entire story in Cunningham’s debut. Although he only scored two points, he showed the physical tools that NBA teams crave, showing why he was the top overall pick. 

As a 6-foot-8 point guard, Cunningham will have the opportunity to be special on the defensive end of the floor. Pistons fans got a glimpse of his potential on defense in the debut.

“I think it was good. I feel like coming in, just being able to make some plays off the ball, get some rebounds. I felt like I was solid defensively,” Cunningham said postgame. 

Additionally, Cunningham has the size to be an excellent rebounding guard. Similar to Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, the Oklahoma State product will be a point guard who should be one of the best rebounders on his team. 

On Saturday night, Cunningham pulled down seven rebounds. All seven came in the first half, setting the record for most rebounds in a half by a Pistons player in their NBA debut since at least 1997-98 (when NBA first tracked play-by-play data). 

Detroit plays again today against the Brooklyn Nets, but Cunningham will rest since it’s the second night of a back-to-back as he works his way back to full health. 

To this point in the season, the Pistons’ only win has come with their franchise cornerstone on the floor.

The post Top Pick Cade Cunningham Flashes Potential In NBA Debut appeared first on SLAM.

Per the Detroit News’ Rod Bear, Casey shared an update early this week:

#Pistons Dwane Casey on Cade Cunningham: “He wants to play; the medical people are holding him back. You don’t want to rush him back if it’s not 100%. There are certain movements he has where it’s still sore.”

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) October 23, 2021

Pistons general manager Troy Weaver says that he’s “anticipating” that Cunningham’s debut will hopefully be when the team gets “back off the road”—which could be after their three-game road trip that ends on Thursday. Their home opener against the Magic is on October 30th.

“He’s pretty much day-to-day, but we need to ramp him up and get some conditioning going and get him acclimated to going full speed in 5-on-5,” Weaver on the Stoney & Jansen Show on 97.1 The Ticket (via the Detroit News). “Hopefully, we’ll get him back sooner than later, but I would anticipate hopefully seeing him when we get back off the road.”

The team’s medical staff will monitor Cunningham’s progress and could clear him by the end of the week.

The post Pistons GM Troy Weaver ‘Anticipates’ Cade Cunningham’s Return Could Be After Road Games appeared first on SLAM.

Pistons’ coach Dwane Casey stated that the team would not rush Cunningham’s recovery and that he will participate in a few practices before he is cleared in-game action.

“We don’t know yet,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said via The Detroit News. “He went through some practice, but we’ll see. We’re not going to put a timetable on it — when he’s ready to roll, he’s going to be ready to roll.”

Cunningham was spotted putting up jumpers this week during practice.

#Pistons Cade Cunningham is shooting after practice… No visible ankle wrap. Could be something…could be nothing. pic.twitter.com/5JwRFjv6yC

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) October 18, 2021

With that, Casey has said that Cunningham has remained engaged in film sessions and practice.

“He is working, getting his work in,” he said per Yahoo! Sports. “His attitude has been great in film sessions, teaching and talking to him on the sidelines as the practice goes on in film sessions or whatever. He has been a student of the game but I’ll say this, there is nothing like being out there and going through it to get ready for an NBA season, especially for a rookie.”

Detroit’s options to replace Cunningham include Frank Jackson and Josh Jackson in the backcourt with Killian Hayes.

The post Detroit Pistons To Hold Out Cade Cunningham For Season Opener appeared first on SLAM.

However, the 19-year-old’s primary goal for the season highlights a key characteristic, one that was likely part of what swayed the Pistons to select him over other popular prospects, such as former G League Ignite guard Jalen Green.

In an interview with Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Cunningham allowed fans a look into his mind, as he discussed how his hope to build a special culture in the Pistons’ locker room outweighs his potential on-court accomplishments this season. 

“I’m going to attack the game. I’m going to do what I do. But regardless, it’s a trophy. So I feel what I could build in that locker room will mean a lot more to me and worth a lot more than whatever hardware I can get. That’s just an individual award.”

Looking at both the tangible and intangible assets of the players they’ve brought in, the Pistons have done an admirable job amassing promising young players through both the draft and free agency.

However, the addition of Cade could be just the catalyst that the Pistons are looking for to kick their team into high gear. It will be interesting how the Texas native can lead this young roster as the season goes on.

The post Cade Cunningham Wants to Build Special Culture in Detroit appeared first on SLAM.

Hall of Famer Ben Wallace is joining the Detroit Pistons organization as a basketball operations and team engagement advisor.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 8, 2021

Pistons owner Tom Gores broke down what type of contributions Wallace has provided in the past and what asset he will be in the future via NBA.com.

“Ben is a Hall of Famer and a Pistons legend who has continued to come back home and support our team and our organization,” said team owner Tom Gores. “He embodies everything we are building here and will be a real asset to Dwane, Troy and the rest of our staff.  Ben helped set the standard for what it means to be a Piston and will be a tremendous influence for our young players.”

Wallace’s role will be as a liaison to general manager Troy Weaver, the basketball operations staff and the coaching staff. His presence will also be required as a mentor to players on the Pistons roster and G-League players.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee played 16 seasons with Washington, Orlando, Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland. However Pistons fans will always remember the “Big Ben” that led the franchise to their last NBA title back in 2004.

The post Ben Wallace Reunites With Detroit Pistons In Basketball Operations Role appeared first on SLAM.

Per Rod Beard of the Detroit News, Cunningham suffered a minor ankle earlier in the week and it will likely keep him out for the Pistons’ preseason opener.

Following Tuesday’s practice, Pistons head coach Dwane Casey spoke to Beard about Cunningham’s status for Detroit’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.

“I would say close to (declaring him out). Nobody’s told me that but if he couldn’t go today, I don’t see him miraculously coming around and being ready to go tomorrow,” Casey said. “He’s going to need two or three practices under his belt before he’s ready to roll.”

Despite Cunningham likely missing tomorrow’s game, Beard reports that there is still not much concern over the ankle injury for the rookie guard.

Cunningham, the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in Summer League, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range.

The Pistons will kick off their preseason on Wednesday night at 7 PM (EST). Their regular-season opener is set for Oct. 20, where they will face the new-look Chicago Bulls.

The post REPORT: Cade Cunningham Likely Out for Pistons’ Preseason Opener appeared first on SLAM.

A league source said the Timberwolves, Pacers, Cavaliers, Pistons, Raptors and Spurs are still inquiring about Ben Simmons’ availability.

Simmons vs. Sixers: An inside look at a messy NBA divorce https://t.co/pF1YNcWHBK via @phillyinquirer

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) October 2, 2021

The Minnesota Timberwolves, who are reportedly unwilling to give up Karl Anthony-Towns or Anthony Edwards in any deal for Simmons, as well as Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs have all reached out to the Sixers in hopes for a potential deal. There were earlier rumors about a deal with Golden State but Warriors owner Joe Lacob questioned Simmons’ fit on the team.

The next chapter of this ongoing story comes Monday, when the 76ers open up their preseason with a matchup against the Raptors. The team already has held $8.25 million of Simmons’ salary on October 1st. If Simmons misses Monday’s game, he faces a fine of roughly $227,000 and will continue for every game he is not present going forward.

Simmons averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game for the Sixers last year. His second place finish in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year voting showcased the two way talents that helped him make his third-straight All-Star appearance.

The post REPORT: Six Teams Have Inquired About the Availability of Ben Simmons appeared first on SLAM.

Throughout his 1088 game NBA career, Wallace averaged just 5.7 points per contest. While fans generally gravitate to offense and how many points players score, he made an impact elsewhere. It’s not every day you see a player become a Hall of Famer with such low scoring numbers. 

At his recent Hall of Fame induction, Wallace spoke about the importance of defense in the NBA and how guys don’t get enough credit for it. 

“It’s time for people to start recognizing the defensive end of the floor. Defensive guys put in a lot of work and they don’t get a lot of credit.” 

Wallace was and still is an advocate for playing defense at a high level. While there’s an award for the NBA’s top defender each season, the game continues to move towards a high-scoring style. 

Although there’s players that still pride their games on defense, it doesn’t happen near enough. 

The post Ben Wallace: ‘It’s Time For People To Start Recognizing the Defensive End of the Floor’ appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN Sources: Brooklyn is trading C DeAndre Jordan, four future-second round picks and $5.78M to Detroit for Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya. Pistons plan to work through a buyout on two-years, $20M owed Jordan; Nets will save $47M in salary and tax on deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 3, 2021

The Nets will send the Pistons their 2024 and 2027 seconds alongside a 2024 second-rounder via the Washington Wizards and a 2025 second-rounder via the Golden State Warriors.

Wojnarowaski also reports that the Pistons plan to work through a buyout with Jordan who is still owed $20 million from his four-year $40 million contract he signed in June of 2019. Jordan will then sign with the increasingly deep Los Angeles Lakers.

With the Nets’ Big Three taking up a majority of the organization’s cap space, the trade allows Brooklyn to save $47 million in salary luxury tax space.

25-year-old center Jahlil Okafor has bounced around the league since being drafted third overall in 2015 but finds a championship contender in Brooklyn who requires front court depth. Okafor averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 27 games before missing more than two months after undergoing knee surgery.

Former 15th overall pick (2019) Sekou Doumbouy averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 56 games for the Pistons.

The post DeAndre Jordan Traded to Pistons, Intends to Sign with Lakers Upon Buyout appeared first on SLAM.

Carmelo discussed the possibility as a guest on Showtime’s All The Smoke podcast, hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. Anthony told a backstory of how Detroit promised that they were going to select him after LeBron James with the No. 2 pick back in 2003.

Melo was 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 to be drafted by the Pistons

He believes that decision changed the course of his career. #ATS100 | @carmeloanthony pic.twitter.com/vof21kguTH

— SHOWTIME Basketball (@shobasketball) August 17, 2021

“To this day, I still think about that. I’m like, they promised me, You know what I’m saying? ‘We taking you.’ I’m talking about all the way up to draft day, you understand? ‘We taking you.’ So, in my mind, I’m like, ‘I’m going to Detroit.’ …They won it and I’m like, ‘Ah, my luck.’ If I’m there, I think they win another one. I think we go back-to-back if I’m there.”

“We drove from (Baltimore) to Philly to go watch—it was Detroit versus Philly,” Anthony added. “Larry Brown had already took the job at Detroit, but he was still coaching Philly. So, we’re in the back and he’s like, ‘We taking you. We taking you.’ I’m driving back up 95 like, ‘Yo, we going to Detroit.’ The whole hood? ‘We Detroit.'”

History shows that the situation did not pan out that way. The Pistons now reside in infamy selecting Darko Milicic with the No. 2 pick instead of Anthony, who fell to the Nuggets at No. 3 or Chris Bosh, who was selected by the Toronto Raptors at No. 4 or Dwyane Wade who was selected by the Miami Heat at No. 5.

Anthony played seven full seasons in Denver before being traded to the New York Knicks. He signed a one year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.

The post Carmelo Anthony Claims Detroit Pistons ‘Promised’ to Draft Him in ’03 appeared first on SLAM.

Unfortunately, for 29 of the NBA teams, one of the most promising young role players just got snatched up.

On Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that 23-year-old guard Hamidou Diallo is set to return to the Detroit Pistons on a two-year $10.4 million contract.

Diallo has been in the NBA for three seasons, spending his first two with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but really came alive in his third season.

In 52 games (split between the Thunder and Detroit Pistons), Diallo averaged 11.6 points, 1.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Diallo also took a noticeable step forward in his jump shooting ability, knocking down a career-high 34.1 percent of his 3-point attempts for the season and 39.0 percent of his threes (2.1 attempts per game) when he joined Detroit.

Those are major steps forward from averaging just 5.2 points and 0.5 assists per game on 24.7 percent shooting from three over his first two years in the NBA.

Diallo, a rangy guard valued for his athleticism and defensive chops, was drafted 45th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2018 NBA Draft following a one-and-done season for the Kentucky Wildcats. He entered his sole collegiate season as a five-star recruit and the 11th-ranked prospect in the country, per ESPN.

The post REPORT: Hamidou Diallo Signs Two-Year Deal With Pistons appeared first on SLAM.

Garza had an impressive showing in NBA Summer League, averaging 15 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from three over five games.

The Pistons drafted Garza out of the University of Iowa with the 52nd overall pick after Garza won the men’s Naismith Player of the Year Award in his senior season.

Garza will join an emerging young core of the Pistons, including Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart and Sekou Doumbouya.

The post Luka Garza to Sign a Two-Way Contract With Pistons appeared first on SLAM.

Green, while going a pick below Cunningham, prevailed in this match. The G-League Ignite product scored 25 points in 30 minutes of action, knocking down three threes, six buckets, and ten free throws.

The Rockets went on to win the matchup 111-91.

However, Cunningham, too, was impressive. The first overall pick scored 20 points and had four rebounds and three steals. He also was the facilitator of a series of dazzling passes that, if converted by his teammates, would have likely netted him over 10 assists.

“My chip is super big. It started at draft night when I got drafted number 2. I felt I was number 1.”

Jalen Green on having a chip on his shoulder pic.twitter.com/nbwaGYpiNh

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 11, 2021

In their individual matchups on the court, Cunningham also received the last laugh. In a one-on-one on the top of the three-point line, Cunningham feigned a drive right, and silkily dribbled the ball behind his back, stopped, and sunk a three – snatching Green’s ankles in the process.

However, in a post-game interview, Green revealed he was not all too concerned with the hype around his and Cunningham’s rivalry. Instead, he’s more focused on playing team ball.

“I feel like I handled it pretty well,” Green said to the Houston Chronicle. “I could have handled it a lot better. I was trying to get my teammates involved. I know I had a lot of turnovers. But I was still trying to get everyone involved and not make it a one-on-one battle between me and Cade. I could have turned around and did that for myself, but we end up getting the win so that’s all that matters.”

Cunningham shared a similar sentiment.

“I know what the hype and everything was going into the game, and that’s a given,” he told The Athletic. “My main goal was to go in and get the chemistry right with our young core and figure each other out. I was just trying to go in and play my game.”

Soon enough, we’ll be able to see these two duke it out with their official NBA rosters, for years to come.

The post Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green Impress in First Clash as Pros appeared first on SLAM.

By the end of his second year as a benchwarmer, Darko Milicic was as unsure about Darko Milicic as the rest of us. “I can’t say how good I am or how bad I am because I haven’t played to show myself or anybody,” he told reporters. Darko had been picked No. 2 in a draft so good you’re reading a magazine about it 18 years later. But he played in just a few dozen games as a rookie and again as a sophomore, and only when games were well in hand. His stats were more like nonexistent than bad, and as his fellow draftmates thrived, Milicic was quickly deemed an all-time bust. In the end, it’s hard to argue the label. But did it arrive too soon?

Recently, as I thought about Darko’s somber time in the League, I realized that my memories of him had more to do with cheap jokes and my own expectations than with his basketball talents. I remember the scowls he drew from Larry Brown in Detroit, his bloated contract in Minnesota and his doomed tenure in New York. And then there is the great question of whether the Pistons would have still won the ’04 title had they drafted Melo or DWade instead (Ben Wallace says no; Melo says they woulda won two or three).

But I could hardly remember Darko, the young player. I wondered when exactly the public turned on him and why we did it. Is it possible he was better than we gave him credit for? In hopes of validating the big man, who turns 36 this summer and seems happily retired on his farm in Serbia, I went to the tape.

His first-ever NBA touch is thrilling to watch. It’s a preseason game, but still. A “league executive” had previously been quoted by ESPN as saying that Darko “already has moves that remind me of Olajuwon in the post,” and…I mean…Darko receives the ball on the right block and without wasted motion pounds two hard dribbles, bumping his defender under the cup, twirls toward the baseline, transitions the ball into his left (dominant) hand, and finishes softly. “That was an eye-opener, folks,” the local broadcaster says. In retrospect, this moment seems to mark the peak of Darko’s career.

As the ’03-04 regular season begins, he’s buried on the bench behind Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Mehmet Okur and others. Milicic doesn’t score a single NBA point until December. He plays 25 minutes in all of February—a month in which Anthony, the No. 3 pick, averages 27 points.

In March, as the Pistons travel to Phoenix, Darko’s disappointing legacy precedes him. The TNT broadcast airs a cruel graphic about the 1984 Draft, when Olajuwon, Sam Bowie and Michael Jordan went 1-2-3. “You’ve got kinda the same feel for this draft, with James, Milicic and Anthony,” the broadcaster says. Darko is still only 18. He plays under four minutes and has 2 field-goal attempts.

GET YOUR COPY OF SLAM PRESENTS THE ’03 DRAFT NOW

Soon, the team is in Denver, against Anthony. The Pistons lead by 20 in the fourth quarter, so Darko gets to play. His teammates make an effort to feed him, only each possession seems worse than the next: a missed hook shot, an intercepted entry pass, a three-in-the-key call against the rookie, a heinous lefty runner that clanks off the backboard and then the rim.

His downward spiral is officially in progress (though I’ll reiterate that he’s still only 18). Within six months of Darko’s dazzling preseason debut, he’s a downtrodden garbage time specialist who can’t stop flailing and getting blocked. By the end of his rookie season—to say nothing of the years that would follow—there seems to be no joy left in Darko’s game. There’s no hop in his step, no sense of a fantasy fulfilled. He seems to want out. And he won’t find peace on the bench, either: seated on the pine, Darko draws ironic cheers everywhere he goes. As Detroit’s leads balloon, crowds start to buzz, hoping to catch a glimpse of the teenager making the wrong kind of history.

“It’s nice that people like me, but if they have to cheer for me to come into the game, that’s not good,” he said late in his sophomore season, a few days shy of his 20th birthday. “It doesn’t make me feel good at all.”

His melancholy is what stands out on the game tape now, years later, far more than athletic limitations or a crooked jumper. Later we’d learn that Milicic drank heavily and slept little in those early years. But even without that insight, it’s easy to see a burdened player on the floor. Maybe Darko’s demeanor jumps out because Anthony, by comparison, exuded such enthusiasm and confidence. Maybe it’s because I feel partly responsible. Did our (my) quick judgment induce Darko’s cringe-worthy, glum style of play? Would he have had a chance without us? His career was spent in a miserable feedback loop—public criticism being validated by on-court gaffes that drew public criticism and so on. Could he have broken free with more minutes and a few big games? As I work through his archives, I pretend not to know the answer to that question. I continue on, searching for a redemptive clip, hoping the next one will rewrite history.

SLAM PRESENTS THE ’03 DRAFT AVAILABLE NOW.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Former No.2 Pick Darko Milicic’s NBA Career Didn’t Turn Out as Predicted. Is That His Fault or Ours? appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Conner, the Rockets have a preference for G-League Ignite guard Jalen Green with the second overall pick.

Green opted out of playing college basketball, electing to join the G-League Ignite team, and showed why he’s one of the best players in the draft in the process. While showing a knack for making highlight plays as a prototypical shooting guard prospect, Green averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game for the Ignite while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point range.

The Rockets will certainly have their hands full with options, even if they decide not to take Green.

Projected top-three pick Evan Mobley showed the potential to be a dominant two-way center in his freshman year with the Trojans, while a projected top-five pick in explosive guard Jalen Suggs helped lead the Gonzaga Bulldogs to the NCAA Championship Game as a freshman.

Both Mobley and Suggs will be serious contenders for Houston, assuming the Detroit Pistons select Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick, as many anticipate.

The 2021 NBA Draft will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Thursday, July 29.

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With that in mind, the Houston Rockets have been reported to have interest in trading up for that top pick and been extremely aggressive in their pursuit of late according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

While there are quite a few different packages the Rockets could offer, one including guard Eric Gordon has been discussed between the two teams. 

The 2021 NBA Draft is set to take place on July 29, where many NBA teams will face a pivotal night for their respective franchises. 

The post Rockets In Aggressive Pursuit Of Pistons’ No. 1 Overall Pick appeared first on SLAM.

The roster, which features some of the most young and promising players in professional basketball, will be coached by Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few and Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Jamahl Mosley.

A roster of 13 young @nba standouts & 4 veteran players with international experience make up the 2021 USA Men’s Select Team that will train with #USABMNT July 6-9.

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 1, 2021

The roster features seven rookies from the 2020 NBA Draft class in Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Saddiq Bey (Detroit Pistons), Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento Kings), Immanuel Quickley (New York Knicks), Isaiah Stewart (Detroit Pistons), Patrick Williams (Chicago Bulls) and Obi Toppin (New York Knicks).

Sophomores and three-year pros Miles Bridges (Charlotte Hornets), Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers), Tyler Herro (Miami Heat), Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs), Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves), P.J. Washington , (Charlotte Hornets) enter the mix as well, giving the US Select Team an intriguing stable of talent.

Four players on the roster—John Jenkins (Bilbao Basket, Italy), Cam Reynolds, Josh Magette (Darüşşafaka Tekfen, Turkey) and Dakota Mathias— all have NBA experience, and currently either play overseas or are unsigned.

Managing Director of Team USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo noted he felt confident in the program’s selection of the aforementioned players.

“This USA Select Team continues the legacy established by previous Select teams of helping prepare our USA National Team for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Colangelo, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director.

“With all the uncertainty of how many of our Olympic Team members will be available for the USA training camp because of the overlap with the NBA Finals, we chose a USA Select Team consisting of many of the top young NBA players and four players who not only own international experience, but who played recently for USA Basketball in important national team qualifying competitions.

If we need to add players to fill out our roster for any of our exhibition games, we feel this USA Select Team has an excellent variety of skilled players to choose from.”

Since the USA Basketball Men’s National Team program was developed in 2006, there have been six Select Teams fostered to help with preparation for events (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2021.)

The inaugural roster featured then up-and-coming players such as Andre Iguodala, Al Jefferson, David Lee and J.J. Redick.

Team USA’s Select Team begins their Olympic journey on July 25, where they will be competing in the Group A bracket.

The post Team USA Select Team Roster Announced for Tokyo Olympics appeared first on SLAM.

Official: The Detroit #Pistons announced today that the club has named @JohnBeilein as senior advisor/player development.

Read more: https://t.co/eJ3NJSnYvh pic.twitter.com/FogD8j4aVT

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) June 2, 2021

Pistons owner Tom Gores gave a lot of credit to head coach Dwane Casey for the decision to add the 68-year-old Beilein to his staff, via NBA.com.

“There is nothing more important to our franchise right now than the growth and development of our players,” Gores said. “Having spent time with John, we all know he is one of the best teachers in the game of basketball at any level. Dwane’s decision and desire to bring him on board underscores our commitment to helping this young Pistons team maximize its potential. John will be a real asset to the organization and we are fortunate to have him join us.”

This is considered a major coup for General Manager, Troy Weaver. Both Casey and Beilein were considered finalists for the coaching vacancy left by Stan Van Gundy couple of seasons ago.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Beilein as he spent 12 seasons at the University of Michigan, leading them to a 278-150 record with nine trips to the NCAA Tournament. That includes five trips to the Sweet 16 and two national championship game appearances.

After a very successful campaign in college, Beilein was hired as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers before the 2019-20 season as the franchise made its transition from the LeBron James “Championship or bust” era.

The Detroit Pistons will have a top-six pick in the upcoming lottery.

The post Detroit Pistons Hire John Beilein As Senior Advisor of Player Development appeared first on SLAM.

One of the best players in Detroit Pistons history, he was a key piece of their 2004 NBA Championship. He spent nine of his 16 seasons in Detroit, where he earned four NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards (2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006). In the 2001-02 season, Wallace even led the league with an outstanding 3.5 blocks per contest. 

As first reported by Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, Wallace will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2021. He will become the first undrafted player to ever Make it into the Hall of Fame. 

Wallace was never known for his offense, showing just how impactful his defense was as he enters the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. In 1,088 career games, Wallace averaged 5.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and two blocks in 29.5 minutes per game. 

The post Ben Wallace To Be Inducted Into 2021 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Class appeared first on SLAM.

Most games with 5+ threes by a rookie in NBA history:

11 — Saddiq Bey
9 — Steph Curry
9 — Allen Iverson pic.twitter.com/2XWEHxrCeo

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 4, 2021

Saddiq hit five 3-pointers in back-to-back games this week against the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets to break the record, passing the 20 point plateau on both occasions.

Head coach Dwane Casey is impressed just as much by his efficient play as his shooting.

“He’s efficient in his play,” says Casey, via NBA.com.“It’s kind of like you want him to be a little more reckless, more aggressive. But he’s such a conscientious player, a conscientious kid that he doesn’t want to make mistakes – and doesn’t.”

Bey has season averages of 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting a solid 38.3 percent from beyond the line. Over his last 12 games, he’s picked up his production scoring 15.8 points per game on an eye-opening 40.9 percent shooting from 3-point range.

He has scored 20 or more points nine times overall this season, which is quite a feat considering Bey is accomplishing this in a shortened season, with no summer league, and a shortened preseason with six more games to add to the record.

With all of the attention surrounding Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, Saddiq Bey’s take on his chances of being NBA’s Rookie of the Year is just as low key as his record-breaking exploits.

“I just try to control what I can control. I don’t really know too much about other rookies—except the ones on my team. I try to just control what I can control and I just try to get better every day.”

The Detroit Pistons have committed to developing their young players this season by buying out Blake Griffin and trading Derrick Rose, but Bey’s recent performances this rookie season justifies the vision for the future.  

The post Saddiq Bey Makes NBA History As A 3-Point Shooter appeared first on SLAM.

He was known at Villanova University for being a defensive player and excellent shooter, converting on .451 percent of his attempts from deep in his final collegiate season. That’s translated into the NBA, as Bey has already established himself as a 3-point specialist as well during his rookie season

Bey has made 111 3-pointers this season, holding the Pistons’ franchise record for the most 3-pointers made in a rookie campaign. Bey passed former top-10 pick Brandon Knight to take the top spot, who had previously set the record with 106 in the 2011-12 season.

With 21 games left in the season, he’ll all but certainly add to his numbers and raise the bar for future rookies to break his record. 

Bey is shooting .381 from beyond the arc through 49 games this season for the Pistons and knocking down 2.3 threes per contest. Turning 22-years-old today, Bey looks to have one of the brightest futures of any in his rookie class. 

The post Pistons’ Saddiq Bey Breaks Franchise Rookie Record for 3-Pointers Made appeared first on SLAM.

Griffin recently spoke to Brian Lewis of The New York Post and other members of the media about the narrative surrounding him over the past few seasons, as it’s changed since he moved teams.

“It’s kind of funny to me, because for the last couple years all I’ve heard is how bad I am. You sign with this team and everybody’s like, ‘That’s not fair!’ People say whatever they want. I don’t put a whole lot of value in other people’s opinions.”

The change in the discourse surrounding Griffin only serves to highlight how the team you play for and the contract you’re on can completely change a reputation.

Griffin was, as he mentions, highly criticized these past two seasons. This in part because he was a highly-paid player who missed the bulk of the 2019-20 season and in part because of how his athleticism has suffered due to injury. However, on a minimum contract and with a smaller role, Griffin is now viewed as a significant roster addition for the Nets.

As evidence of what Griffin can provide at his best, in his first game playing at least 20 minutes as a Net, he scored 17 points in a win over his former team last week. After people questioned whether he can still get up above the rim, Griffin even threw down a dunk and stared at his old bench for good measure.

While he isn’t the player he once was, Griffin has already started to flip the narrative that had been forming about him.

The post Blake Griffin: ‘The Last Couple Years All I’ve Heard is How Bad I Am’ appeared first on SLAM.

Wright and Joseph were teammates with the Toronto Raptors in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 season.

In his sixth NBA season at 28-years-old, Wright will now be traded to his fifth team since the 2018-19 season. The playmaker has averaged 10.4 points and 5.0 assists per game this season (both career-highs) while shooting .464 percent from the field but has shot just .348 percent from 3-point range.

Joseph, in his 10th NBA season at 29-years-old, has been a steady backup point guard for the majority of his career. He’s averaging modest numbers of 6.6 points, 2.5 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting .444 percent from the field and .330 percent from 3-point range.

The post Pistons Trade Delon Wright to Kings for Cory Joseph, Draft Picks appeared first on SLAM.

Wojnarowski adds that the Pistons see Diallo, who will be a restricted free agent in the offseason, as a core player for their franchise.

In the case of Oklahoma City, the rise of defensive standout Luguentz Dort made Diallo an expendable commodity that will allow the Thunder to add to their sizable horde of draft assets.

Diallo, now 22-years-old, was the 45th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of the NCAA powerhouse University of Kentucky.

Listed at 6’5″ and 202 pounds with a 6’10” wingspan, Diallo is a long and explosive athlete on the wing. The 2019 Slam Dunk Champion has been having the best season of his career with averages of 11.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steal per game while shooting .481 percent from the field and .293 percent from 3-point range.

Pistons general manager Troy Weaver, who appears to be a fan of long and athletic players, was vice president of the Thunder when they made a draft night trade for Diallo.

Mykhailiuk, now in his third season, is widely regarded as a 3-point specialist. Shooting .333 percent from 3-point range on 4.8 attempts per game this season, the Ukraine native converted .404 percent of his 3-point attempts on 5.1 attempts per game in 2019-20.

Oklahoma City, who ranks 27th in the NBA with a team 3-point percentage of .344, will hope that Mykhailiuk can play much more like he did last season.

The post Thunder Trade Hamidou Diallo to Pistons for Svi Mykhailiuk, Future Draft Pick appeared first on SLAM.

Griffin has averaged a career-low 12.3 points per game this season while shooting just .365 percent from the field and .315 percent from 3-point range. However, as he adjusts to his diminished explosiveness, Griffin has remained multi-dimensional, averaging 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Pistons this season.

With Griffin’s age (31) and injury history, he may try to latch on with a contending team and he would do well to.

Per Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers are “expected to be among the teams” that Griffin will consider signing with.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania and James Edwards III report that the Nets are the frontrunners to sign the former Rookie of the Year.

Prior to Friday’s buyout, Griffin was due to make $36.6 million this season, and $38.9 million in 2021-2022.

The post Blake Griffin Agrees to Contract Buyout with Pistons, Becoming Free Agent appeared first on SLAM.

Rising to prominence during the Nets’ 2017-18 campaign, the California native averaged 18.6 points and 5.6 assists per game over the last two seasons, solidifying himself as a highly productive player who team can count on night-in and night-out.

However, as it happens, Dinwiddie will miss the entire 2020-21 season after suffering a partially torn right ACL in December. Then, two weeks after Dinwiddie reportedly underwent season-ending surgery, Brooklyn traded for star guard James Harden.

Dinwiddie, who signed a three-year, $34.4 million contract with Brooklyn in 2019, will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022 unless he declines his player option for the 2021-22 season.

As there’s a significant possibility that he won’t find a more lucrative contract fresh off a major injury, it’s all but certain that Dinwiddie will pick up his player option next season but the combination of his salary, his recovery timeline and his shifting role could make him expendable.

With that in mind, the Nets have long had an important decision to make regarding Dinwiddie’s future with the team.

Making an appearance on ESPN’s The Jump over the weekend, The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears reported that the Nets will be shopping Dinwiddie as the trade deadline approaches to bolster their roster and make an NBA Finals run.

As good as he was when healthy, it appears that Brooklyn is open to moving him for the right package and capitalizing on the success generated by the star-studded trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving.

According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Detroit Pistons are among the teams who have had interest in acquiring Dinwiddie. Still just 27-years-old and a cultural fit for Detroit, Dinwiddie could be a key building block for a team like the Pistons. 

While it’s still unclear what type of package the Nets could get in return from Dinwiddie, especially considering he’s recovering from a major injury, it will a development worth monitoring over the next few weeks.

As solidifying the team’s defense and the bench the essential to fortifying Brooklyn’s championship chances, former Nets center Mason Plumlee could find himself on his way back to the borough.

The post Pistons Among Teams Interested in Pursuing Spencer Dinwiddie Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Grand Rapids’ previous affiliation was to the Detroit Pistons, where co-owner Ben Wallace played for nine seasons.

However, the Pistons purchased the Northern Arizona Suns from the Phoenix Suns last July, leaving the Drive open to new partnerships — including “a new team name and a logo.”

Located in Michigan, The Drive currently have no “imminent plans” to move to Colorado, per The Denver Post’s Mike Singer (subscription required).

With the G League becoming a more popular pipeline for top high school recruit and other NBA hopefuls, Denver’s ability to find a G League team to partner with bodes well for their prospect development.

In fact, the Nuggets entered the land of legitimate championship contenders following their run to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. As a result, having a development program of sorts for their young talent could make them a franchise comparable to the San Antonio Spurs when it comes to sustained dominance.

The post Nuggets Set to Add First Official G League Affiliate appeared first on SLAM.

Expected to be headed to Detroit in the swap are Dennis Smith Jr. and additional draft compensation.

Rose’s name has come up as a popular trade target for the better part of the past two seasons. Now, the Knicks will take a flyer on the pending free agent as they jockey for position in an Eastern Conference playoff race.

This won’t be Rose’s first tenure with the Knicks – he played there in 2016-17 – but this time he’ll be reunited with a coach who is familiar with him game.

New York head coach Tom Thibodeau coached Rose at previous stops with the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Details about the exact draft compensation have not been made public and there are a variety scenarios that could play out. New York is currently in possession of two future Pistons’ second-rounders.

The post Knicks Nearing Trade for Derrick Rose appeared first on SLAM.

Yet, nobody has been blindsided by Wood’s production, as the UNLV product was being touted as an up-and-coming player in what would be his first and last season with the Detroit Pistons.

Averaging 21.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as a starter last season, Wood averaged 26.6 points per game last March, leaving a favorable impression on teams before reaching free agency.

The crazy part about it all? Wood may not have gotten a chance to prove himself in Detroit had Pistons head coach Dwane Casey listened to those who told him to stay away from Wood due to character concerns.

Cut by five teams before landing with the Pistons, there had long been questions about Wood’s professionalism and maturity.

Still, while Casey would provide the guidance and mentorship that the 25-year-old needed, the idea that Wood was “a bad guy” appears to be flawed; an exaggeration of less-than-stellar intangibles.

“Christian’s like a lot of young men in our league that just, it’s time to grow,” Casey told Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press. “He’s done an excellent job with that, and I’m proud of him, even though I don’t want to play against him.“

Fortunately, Wood’s career seems to be on a steady ascent after he signed a three-year, $41 million deal with Houston in the offseason and the rocky road that led him to the Rockets is behind him.

The post Pistons Warned Not To Sign Christian Wood in 2019 appeared first on SLAM.

That same evening, NBA players opted to compete, but members of the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Detroit Pistons took a knee in protest to the recent events.

Coaches and players across the league have also spoken up about what happened, including the vast difference between how Capitol law enforcement responded to the peaceful Black Lives Matter protests outside of the White House in June compared to how they handled the riots at the Capitol building.

According to The Guardian, Washington police, US Park police, over 5,000 national guard troops (in full body armor), and federal agencies like the Bureau of Prisons were present in June. The Black Lives Matter Movement tweeted that Black protesters were met by law enforcement carrying assault rifles, tear gas, and battle helmets.

Meanwhile, only 340 guardsmen were sent in advance to handle the rioters on Wednesday. 115 of them were on duty and mainly directed traffic, while the DC and Virginia national guard were sent only after the Capitol had been breached. Officers were even spotted taking selfies with rioters.

Here are reactions from the NBA:

Jaylen Brown: “There is two split different America’s. In one America you get killed by sleeping in your car, selling cigarettes or playing in your backyard. In another America, you get to storm the Capitol. No tear gas, no massive arrests.”

Brad Stevens: “My own personal takeaway is the same as many of you: That we have a long way to go. My personal belief is two weeks from now we’ll be in a better spot, but we still have a long way to go,” said Stevens .”We have to continue to prioritize it. Not only ask about and talk about, but do something about it.”

Boston Celtics and Miami Heat:

Steve Kerr: “The truth matters in our country and anywhere in any circumstance because of the repercussions if we allow lies to spread and if we enable people in power to lie…All of a sudden you have millions of people who are doubting an election that was certified in every state. We had seven to eight more million people vote for [Joe] Biden than for Trump. Every state has certified those results. Every court appeal has been turned down. A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people are leading our government because we’ve decided to over the last few years allow lies to be told. This is who we are. You reap what you sow.”

Stan Van Gundy: “If you are an American and aren’t embarrassed by the domestic terrorism taking place at the Capitol there is something wrong with you. This is a shameful day for our country.”

Doc Rivers: “It’s pretty disturbing, obviously. Sad. But what it’s not is, I keep hearing, this attack on democracy. It’s not. Democracy will prevail. It always does. It shows you a lot, though. When you saw the protests in the summer and you saw the riots and the police and the National Guard and the army, and you see this and you saw nothing. It basically proves a point about a privileged life in a lot of ways. I’ll say it because I don’t think a lot of people want to: Could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming the Capitol, and what would’ve happened?

“So that, to me, is a picture that is worth a thousand words for all of us to see, and probably something for us to reckon with, again. No police dogs turning on people, no billy clubs hitting people — people being peacefully escorted out of the Capitol. So it shows you that can disperse a crowd peacefully, I guess, would be the one thing. But it’s a sad day in a lot of ways; not good for our country and more across the borders, that people see this. It’s part of what we are, and so we have to solve it.”

John Wall: “The most important thing we can do is still stand up for what we stand for and believe in that and stand behind that. We can’t really control what people want to have outbursts and things like that.”

Draymond Green: “…It’s shameful to keep calling them protestors. They’re not f***ing protestors. They’re f***ing terrorists.”

“It’s baffling with the reaction that the law enforcement had and whoever else was involved from a authoritarian standpoint to see the National Guard standing on those same steps when there was a peaceful protest and now to see a terrorist attack and there was no National Guard. It just goes to show you where this country is and where this country has always been and probably where it’s going to stay, to be quite honest. Nothing’s changed. I think through social media and all of these different things we have at our fingertips today, we’re more aware of things. But nothing has changed. This is the same America that it’s been. It’s no different.”

Andrew Wiggins: “Let there be some black people running in there, they all would’ve been shot before they even got to the building.”

Lloyd Pierce: “It’ll never change unless there’s acknowledgement in the past with regards to how African Americans have always been treated in the history of that and going back to slavery and going back to Reconstruction and going back to civil rights,” Pierce said. “You can’t say that things are going to change if you don’t acknowledge that it’s a problem. What you’re seeing today is a reminder there’s a huge difference. There’s a reason why there [aren’t] shooting and brutality and looting and things of that nature, and people are just walking around the Capitol building as if it’s nothing; and people sitting in [Speaker of the House of Representatives] Nancy Pelosi’s office as if it’s nothing.”

Kevin Love: “An absolute disgrace what’s happening at the US Capitol right now. And a blatant example of inequity in how law enforcement chooses to deal with those involved.”

Jamal Crawford: “You do things like this when you know there is a certain privilege where nothing is gonna happen to you.”

Garrett Temple: “I scan my timeline and keep seeing the word “embarrassing.” I’m not embarrassed, I’m not surprised, or shocked even. Embarrassed would mean that I feel a sense of shame by what is going on. I have no such feeling. These people do not come close to being a representation of me”

Scott Brooks: “We should be better than this. What I see in the videos, it’s disgusting. This is a special place. You just hope that everybody from there, our fans; everybody’s safe. This should not be allowed. It’s unacceptable. This is America’s Capitol. You should not be able to do what I saw on video. It’s disgusting, it’s embarrassing, and it should never happen. We have to [play]. This is our job. This is what we have to do. It’s a couple hours out of the day. We all feel the same. It’s just disgusting, but we have to be better. Democracy is there for a reason. It’s all everybody has fought for.”

Jordan Clarkson: “People see the difference; they saw what people did today and how there were no consequences for them. On the other side, it would have…ended in multiple arrests and deaths.”

 J.B. Bickerstaff: “I mean, it’s saddening. It’s disgusting, to be honest with you,” Bickerstaff said. “Our democracy has been a beacon for hundreds of years of what the world ideologically should be. People have looked up to us all over the world and what’s happening there is a disgrace. We have a democracy. Every vote should matter. Every state should have the right to certify their votes and their results. And when that happens, we move forward.

“It’s a stain on our democracy. It’s entitled, spoiled, throwing temper tantrums instead of accepting and moving forward to make our country better, which is the most important thing. It’s not about us as individuals, it’s about what’s best for the country and how we heal our country. And this doesn’t help. This makes it worse.”

The post NBA Reacts To Riots At U.S. Capitol appeared first on SLAM.

Hayes likely sustained the injury on Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks, in which he fell during the third quarter while attempting to defend a fast break.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill, sources say that the 19-year old rookie could miss 4-6 weeks if he opts not to have surgery:

“Surgery is an option, sources say, and if Hayes does have surgery he could miss the rest of the season,” Goodwill reports. “Fortunately, there’s no apparent structural or vascular damage, and doctors believe he’ll fully recover with rehab. The Pistons are sending Hayes to a specialist to determine the next option.”

Hayes, a highly anticipated prospect from France (he was born in Florida but grew up there), turned pro at the age of 16 and played in Germany last season for ratiopharm Ulm.

After the Pistons selected him as the No.7 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Hayes was named a starter and has been directing the offense at point for all seven games so far this season. He’s averaging 4.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.

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However, they’ve had some bright spots when it comes to their personnel. Both Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee got huge contracts this offseason from the Pistons and are being extremely productive thus far. Additionally, Blake Griffin is having solid season coming off of injury. While he should turn it around as the season goes on, Derrick Rose seems to have taken a step back this season offensively.

For more information about the numbers behind our Heat Check series, hop over to our main Heat Check 2020-21 post.

Jerami Grant	22.8p, 6.0r, 1.8a
Mason Plumlee	7.8p, 9.8r, 4.8a
Josh Jackson	17.3p, 6.0r, 2.0a
Blake Griffin	16.3p, 6.0r, 3.0a
Delon Wright	11.8p, 3.5r, 3.8a
Wayne Ellington	11.0p, 1.0r, 0.0a	–
Sekou Doumbouya	4.3p, 3.5r, 0.3a
Jahlil Okafor	7.0p, 5.5r, 0.5a
Svi Mykhailiuk	6.3p, 2.3r, 0.8a
Derrick Rose	14.3p, 2.3r, 5.7a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

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We broke down the Pistons’ depth chart for the 2020-21 season below. We’ve also previously published a summary of the Pistons’ offseason.

Biggest Questions

• Will Blake Griffin be on the team by the end of the season? If the Pistons are going to be mediocre again, it may be time to get what you can for Griffin before it’s too late. Although he hasnt been able to stay healthy recently, he could still be an extremely impactful player on a team looking to make the playoffs.
• Is Killian Hayes ready to lead this team? It already appears that he will be the starting point guard to start the season, even as a rookie. This shows the amount of faith that the Pistons have in him, but it won’t be an easy task.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Detroit Pistons: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

Heading into training camp this offseason, Ball was given his first shot on an NBA team with the Detroit Pistons signing him to a non-guaranteed camp deal. Through Detroit’s first two preseason games, Ball didn’t see the floor.

On Sunday, shorty after that second consecutive game without playing, James Edwards of The Athletic announced that the Pistons would be waiving Ball. 

LiAngelo’s brothers Lonzo and LaMelo play for the Pelicans and Hornets, respectively. For now, it appears as if the middle Ball brother will be without an NBA team. 

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With a roster built less around competing for the eighth seed and more around long-term investments, the franchise will focus on developing its three top-20 picks and creating an opportunity for new additions like Jerami Grant and Delon Wright to continue to grow.

Pistons Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Jerami Grant: The Pistons invested $60 million Grant, who was last seen showcasing his value as a utility forward in the bubble. Denver remained high on him heading into free agency but he’ll now look to see what he can do in a larger role with Detroit.
• Killian Hayes: It’s a new era in Detroit, which puts no shortage of pressure on the team’s highly acclaimed No. 7 pick out of France. Hayes has a cult-like following among draft aficionados and will arrive with Year 1 expectations as high as anybody in his draft class.

Pistons Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Christian Wood: It’s unclear why the Pistons let Wood walk when it seemed as though they could have made the money work. Wood’s performance as a go-to option for Detroit late last season was impressive, he averaged 23.5 and 9.5 when granted at least 30 minutes of burn. Now the question is whether he’ll be able to keep that up over the course of a three-year deal.
• Luke Kennard: Kennard was nearly dealt out of Detroit at the trade deadline last February but ended up remaining with the squad. Although he’s struggled with knee injuries, he’s a .399 three-point shooter whose presence on the perimeter the Pistons will need to replace.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Detroit Pistons: Offseason Summary 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

It was only a few years ago that Rose’s agent said that he didn’t want to mentor younger Knicks players, stating, “you’re a mentor when you no longer can play.”

According to Eric Woodyard of The Undefeated, Rose has now humbly accepted this role and acknowledges that there is a “new generation” of point-guards in the league:

“You’ve got to adapt. That’s why I always throw Kobe [Bryant] in it,” Rose said, per The Undefeated. “He always adapted. He looked at what the game and what the kids were doing. Like, ‘Oh, y’all are Euroing now? All right, let me gone ahead and add that Euro to my game.’ He didn’t change his game totally, but he took the little pieces that they added to the game and that’s how he was able to withstand all them years.

“I’m trying to do the same thing. I watch the shorties, I watch their workouts. I watch all that just to see what’s new.”

Rose has even been welcoming in young players such as Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart, and dropping gems about the game:

“I’m a rookie. I’m new to this league. He’s been around, he know how things go, so I’m always asking questions about it,” Hayes said. “Like at the end of practice, we still talk about the game and everything, so it’s definitely great having a guy like D-Rose helping me.”

“It’s been great,” Pistons rookie Isaiah Stewart. “Just another guy who I’ve been talking a lot to. Picking his brain as well, asking him questions. … He has a lot of knowledge.”

The youngest to ever be named MVP in the league, Rose has endured a host of injuries that would cause his career to take unexpected turns. Still, he’s managed to persevere.

According to Woodyard, Rose felt like his happiness was “restored” last season after averaging 18.1 points per game and shooting a career-best 49%.

“It’s nothing wrong with chasing your dream, and I’m not trying to hate or nothing like that, but for myself, I had to figure out who I was and my path was hard, my path was pain, but everybody’s is different and I was able to get through that,” Rose says.

They say leaders emerge during the toughest of moments, and in the words of Tupac Shakur:

The rose that grew from concrete...By keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air.

The post Derrick Rose Is Accepting His Role as a Veteran Player appeared first on SLAM.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Casey described the second-born Ball brother as an “excellent player” and “great kid.”

While such generalities may be considered a tactful answer when asked about the son of media sensation LaVar Ball, LiAngelo has long-been considered to be a dangerous outside shooter.

Here’s a quick rundown:

At Chino Hills, ‘Gelo’ averaged 33.8 points per game as a senior, a higher scoring average than any player in the state of California. He then committed to UCLA — traditionally a highly-regarded basketball program — as a three-star recruit in 2017 before leaving to play for the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).

While playing for the LKL’s Vytautas Prienu in 2017-18, Ball averaged 12.6 points per game (14 games) while shooting .415 from 3-point range.

Unsurprisingly, Ball went undrafted in 2018 due to off-the-court concerns and his limited on-court strengths. However, Ball joined his father’s short-lived semi-professional Junior Basketball League in 2018-19, earning All-Star and All-Star Game Co-MVP honors.

Appearing to be completely healed from an ankle surgery that prevented him from playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Summer League team last season, Ball has a chance to stick on a re-building Pistons team that needs three-point specialists.

From the looks of it, he’s already got off on the right foot.

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According to Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press, Dwane Casey says that as of now, Killian Hayes is the the starting point guard for the Pistons. Casey would also go on to compare Hayes to Jason Kidd, which goes to show just how much potential that Hayes has as an NBA player.

“I’m not saying he’s Jason Kidd, but he’s got that point guard size. Big, strong sturdy body … he’s an old-school type point guard.”

The Pistons will open up the 2020-21 season against the Timberwolves on December 23. Killian Hayes will make his NBA debut against the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony Edwards.

The post Killian Hayes Currently Set to Start at Point Guard appeared first on SLAM.

According to Kristian Winfield of New York Daily News, Griffin says that if the team is looking to re-build and add young talent, he’s willing to step up and take on a mentorship role:

“If developing young guys is the goal for this season, then I’ll do whatever they ask of me. I’ll spend more time with them, try to teach more, try to listen more.”

Rather than demanding a trade or forcing the role he wants, Griffin, who is 31 years old and one of the better forwards in the NBA when healthy, seems to genuinely want to help however he is needed.

During his three seasons in Detroit, Griffin has produced 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. On a young Pistons team, perhaps his mentorship will be just as important as his on-court production this season.

The post Blake Griffin: ‘If Developing Young Guys Is The Goal For This Season, Then I’ll Do Whatever They Ask Of Me’ appeared first on SLAM.

This will be his second stint with the Pistons after playing 26 games with the team in the 2018-19 season when he was traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns. He was waived one day later before being picked up by Detroit.

Ellington will be 33 at the start of the 2020-21 season, but still has plenty he can bring to the table. Last season with the Knicks, he averaged only 5.1 points per game but shot .350 from deep on 4.0 attempts per contest.

The post Pistons Add Depth And Shooting With Wayne Ellington On One-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

The move gives Philly a productive big man that showed glimpses of potential behind Rudy Gobert as a member of the Utah Jazz in the bubble. It also gives Detroit another raw, young talent to audition amid their rebuild.

Zhaire Smith played in just 13 games over the course of his first two seasons due to injury and illness but he remains an intriguing 21-year-old out out Texas Tech.

Smith’s rookie deal runs through 2021-22 but that year has a team option on it. Bradley’s $3.5 million contract, in contrast, expires after 2020-21.

Detroit initially acquired Bradley from the Jazz on draft night as Utah scrambled to clear space for other free agents.

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According to James Edwards III of The Athletic, this looks to be the case in particular for Rodney McGruder, who the Pistons acquired from the Clippers in the draft day deal involving Luke Kennard.

McGruder had a guaranteed $5.2MM contract for the upcoming season with a non-guaranteed salary of $5MM for 2021-22. This means over the next five seasons, the Pistons will have a cap hit of just over $1 million for McGruder.

He will now become a free agent at age 29. Last season with the Clippers, he averaged 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest.

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The remaining $13.3 million of Dedmon’s contract will be dead money on the Pistons’ books, spread out over multiple years.

Dedmon, 31, should have several suitors on the open market as a free agent. A true 7-footer who can space the floor, Dedmon averaged 5.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest.

The post Dewayne Dedmon Waived By Pistons, Becomes Free Agent appeared first on SLAM.

The move will also see Trevor Ariza, required by Detroit in a draft day trade, sent to Oklahoma City, as well as a draft pick.

The move would give Detroit a solid young guard fresh off a relatively down year in Dallas. Before he joined the Mavs, Wright averaged 12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game for the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half of the 2018-19 season.

The trade would give Dallas a veteran on an expiring contract in Johnson. Johnson will earn $16 million in 2020-21 and has already been traded since exercising his player option. The Minnesota Timberwolves sent him to the Thunder in the Ricky Rubio trade on draft night.

The Thunder nab Ariza and his expiring contract, in addition to a young player in Jackson and a draft pick.

More to come.

The post Mavs Trade Delon Wright to Pistons in Multi-Team Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Grant continue to make a name for himself as a valuable utility player in his first year with the Denver Nuggets last season, averaging 12.0 points per game and showcvasing his flexibility on both ends of the ball in the postseason.

The deal marks a substantial pay raise over the three-year, $27 million pact he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder two years ago. He was traded by OKC to Denver in exchange for draft compensation last offseason.

More to come.

The post Jerami Grant to Sign Three-Year Deal with Pistons appeared first on SLAM.

The Houston Rockets are finalizing a deal to sign Christian Wood to a three-year, $27 million contract, Frank Isola of ESPN reports. The Detroit Pistons free agent has been one of the most intriguing players on the market.

Wood enjoyed a breakout season with the Pistons last year and figures to earn the mid-level exception through the 2022-23 season. He’s a stretch big that will slot into a rotation that could still see substantial turnover in the days and weeks ahead.

Wood averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting .386 from beyond the arc this season. Those numbers rose precipitously after the Pistons traded Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline.

Wood’s arrival in Houston could give the Rockets a building block in the event that they do end up moving on from Russell Westbrook and James Harden as has been reported.

The report comes on the heels of another report that the Pistons had reached an agreement with center Mason Plumlee. Seeing as Plumlee signed for a similar amount, it’s unclear why Wood didn’t end up back in Detroit.

The Pistons and Rockets worked together on a trade prior to the draft, one that sent Trevor Ariza from Houston to Detroit.

More to come.

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Jackson was the No. 4 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft but the Phoenix Suns who drafted him didn’t pick up his fourth-year option. A 2019 trade sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies last offseason and he spent the majority of the campaign paying his dues in the G League.

Jackson showed flashes of his impressive potential while playing spot minutes for the Grizzlies’ big league team before the shutdown. He averaged 16.6 points per game in March.

Jackson is still just 23 years old but off-court incidents have limited his impact in the NBA. By all accounts, Jackson seemed to stay out of trouble in 2019-20 and could mature further in the right situation.

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Rod Beard of the Detroit News reports that the deal will be for the veteran minimum.

The move gives Detroit another center on the same day that they’ve acquired Dewayne Dedmon and Mason Plumlee.

Okafor was productive in a minor role with the Pelicans last season, averaging 8.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

The Pels were the third team that Okafor has suited up for since his selection as the No. 3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

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The Pistons will sign Plumlee into their cap space but the addition could put their ability to sign other free agents in jeopardy unless something else develops.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks reports that Detroit had about $10 million in cap space prior to free agency. The Pistons would need to use that space to sign Wood given that they don’t have his Bird rights.

Plumlee has been a familiar face on a solid Nuggets team for a few years now but will now ply his trade for a rebuilding Pistons team.

More to come.

The post Pistons to Sign Mason Plumlee to Three-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Over the course of the past weeks, the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons have been linked to the guard but with free agent fast approaching, time may be running out.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix described Detroit’s interest in VanVleet as mild, which makes sense after the Pistons took point guard Killian Hayes with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Additionally, Berman writes that the Knicks — a team with a reputation of being unwieldy — are interested but concerned about being used as a leverage play in a bid for VanVleet to draw a more lucrative contract.

VanVleet, 26-years-old, is reportedly looking for a contract that will pay him approximately $20 million annually, Mannix says.

In a guard-driven league, VanVleet’s skillset is indeed valuable and — as one of the more productive young players — he should be in line for a substantial pay raise. Now just a four-year pro, VanVleet just completed the best season of his career, averaging 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting .390 from 3-point range and starting in all 54 games that he suited up for.

Nonetheless, while there are a few teams that can offer VanVleet the type of contract he desires — like New York — the Raptors have his Bird rights and can sign him to a more lucrative contract than any team, if they would like.

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According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Pistons will not extend a qualifying offer to Maker, which will result in him hitting unrestricted free agency.

Still just 23 years old, Maker should certainly have a market. Although he hasn’t panned out to be the player many hoped he could be to this point, he still has many years ahead of him in his career. Perhaps another fresh start on the right team could get him back on track.

With free agency set to open up on Friday, Maker should be one of the most intriguing free agents under 25 on the market. Last season in Detroit, he averaged just 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, but still showed quite a bit of upside.

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The move gives the Hawks a three-and-D wing on an expiring contract in exchange for a big man owed north of $25 million through the 2021-22 season. The final year of his deal is non-guaranteed, however, so Detroit could part ways with him and avoid the cap hit.

The Hawks have made no secret of their intentions to compete with their young core this season and the addition of Snell gives them a more productive use of the eight-digit contract previously allocated to Dedmon.

Atlanta added Onyeka Okongwu with the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, adding yet another body to their already crowded frontcourt featuring Clint Capela and John Collins, hence even less of a need for Dedmon.

The move will free up room in Detroit for some of the rookies the Pistons drafted and the young players on their roster. As they’ve completely leaned into a rebuild, a veteran like Snell would find himself on an entirely different timeline.

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The move gives Utah financial flexibility while allowing Detroit to pocket yet another draft asset.

Bradley, still just 22 years old, will join a rebuilding Pistons team and should have opportunities to play more minutes than the 11.4 he averaged behind Rudy Gobert last season.

The Pistons ultimately used the No. 38 pick to select Saben Lee out of Vanderbilt.

Update: The Pistons have traded Bradley to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Zhaire Smith.

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The Pistons will received the No. 19 pick in tonight’s draft, which they will use on Saddiq Bey, and Rodney McGruder.

Kennard’s name has long been floated as a potential trade chip, he was almost dealt to the Phoenix Suns at the trade deadline last year. By dealing him away, Pistons general manager Troy Weaver will get a third first-round pick in tonight’s draft.

Detroit has already drafted Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart.

The move allows the Clippers to shed about $10 million while only bringing back Shamet’s $2.1 million cap hit, which could servre them well as they look to round out their squad for another run at a title in the West.

Later in the night, the Nets and Clippers swapped second-round picks. That may or may not be related to this transaction.

The post Nets Acquire Landry Shamet in Three-Team Trade with Pistons, Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

It’s unclear what protections will come on the future first-round pick.

The move gives Detroit two firsts tonight while providing financial flexibility for a Rockets team that faces a hard cap. Wojnarowski reports that the manoeuvre will allow them to use their full mid-level exception.

The Pistons will now pick No. 7 and at No. 16 and could potentially package those picks to move up if the opportunity arises. Yesterday, LaMelo Ball told the media that he worked out for the top-three teams and Detroit.

Additionally the Rockets are purchasing the Pistons’ 2021 second-round pick, originally from the Los Angeles Lakers, for $4.6 million.

More to come.

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The trade helps Brooklyn in their bid for immediate contention by giving them yet another capable guard to use in their rotation. Brown started 43 games for the Pistons last year, his sophomore NBA campaign.

The move gives the Pistons a good look at a former 2018 first-round pick that’s shown raw flashes of scoring ability throughout his first two years in the league.

The addition of the 2021 second-round, which originally belonged to the Toronto Raptors, gives new general manager Troy Weaver a draft asset to stash in his war chest.

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