This year’s lottery isn’t quite the make-or-break affair it was last year, when the Pistons had to hang on to the eighth position in the lottery to keep their first-round pick from going to Charlotte. Detroit slid back to ninth, losing the pick to the Hornets, who drafted Noah Vonleh. The Pistons are again in the eighth position in the lottery this year, and while they’ll keep their pick regardless, Detroit will surely hope that the roughly 1-in-10 chance that it moves up into the top three comes through. Here’s more from the Motor City:
- Coach/executive Stan Van Gundy made it clear to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press that the Pistons won’t feel obligated to use up all of their cap flexibility if the market doesn’t bear what they want. Detroit has about $28MM in guaranteed salary for next season against a projected $67.1MM cap, not including a player option of nearly $1.271MM for Cartier Martin.
- Keith Langlois of Pistons.com adds Wisconsin small forward Sam Dekker to the list of prospects the Pistons have interviewed at this week’s draft combine. Langlois’ piece focuses on GM Jeff Bower‘s desire for prospects who are especially skilled in one facet rather than versatile players who are proficient in many areas but don’t perform at an elite level in any of them.
- Eastern Washington shooting guard Tyler Harvey is interviewing with the Pistons today, he tells Langlois (Twitter link).