Detroit Pistons Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Ex-Piston Lorenzo Brown Headed To Russia

November 3rd, 2016 at 6:48pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Point guard Lorenzo Brown will sign with Russia’s Unics Kazan in the Euroleague, league sources informed Chris Reichert of The Step Back (Twitter links).

Brown was forced to consider other options after being a late training camp cut by the Pistons. He battled Ray McCallum for the third point guard spot behind Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith, a competition that McCallum won. It turned out to be a moot point when coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy opted to claim Beno Udrih off waivers from the Heat just before the season opener and waive McCallum.

Detroit signed Brown to a 10-day contract late last season and then decided to keep him during the postseason, when it was swept in the opening round by the Cavaliers. Brown, who had a non-guaranteed deal, never appeared in a game with the Pistons.

Brown’s last NBA action came in January, when he was on two 10-days with the Suns. He averaged 2.5 points, 1.4 assists and 1.1 turnovers in 7.6 minutes per game across eight appearances with Phoenix.

Brown spent much of the season with Detroit’s D-League affiliate in Grand Rapids, averaging 18.3 points, 5.8 assists and 2.9 turnovers in 33.3 minutes per game. The relationship between the Pistons and the former N.C. State standout, who was the 52nd pick in the 2013 draft, dates to the 2014 preseason, when Brown was on Detroit’s training camp roster.

Brown, 26, appeared in 29 games with the Timberwolves in 2014/15, including seven starts, and played 26 games for the Sixers in his rookie year.

NBA D-League Affiliate Players For 2016/17

November 3rd, 2016 at 12:35pm CST by Luke Adams

Throughout the offseason, and in the weeks leading up to the start of the regular season, NBA teams are permitted to carry 20 players, but that total must be cut down to 15 in advance of opening night. However, up to four players waived by teams before the season can be designated as affiliate players and assigned to their D-League squads.

The players have some say in the decision — if they’d prefer to sign with a team overseas, or if they get an opportunity with another NBA club, they’re free to turn down their team’s request to have them play in the D-League. Most NBA and international teams have fairly set rosters by late October though, so having the opportunity to continue playing in the same system is appealing to many of those preseason cuts. Especially since they’ll maintain NBA free agency while they play in the D-League.

There are a few other rules related to D-League affiliate players. A player whose returning rights are held by a D-League team can’t be an affiliate player for another club, which is why undrafted free agents from the current year are commonly signed and assigned. Additionally, an affiliate player must have signed with his team during the current league year, which explains why we often see players signed and quickly waived in the days leading up to the regular season. And, of course, not every NBA team has a D-League affiliate, so clubs like the Hawks, Nuggets, or Clippers have no place to send affiliate players.

With all that in mind, here are the NBA D-League affiliate players to start the 2016/17 season:

Austin Spurs (San Antonio Spurs)

Canton Charge (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Jonathan Holmes
Eric Moreland

Delaware 87ers (Philadelphia 76ers)

Pistons Notes: Caldwell-Pope, Bullock, Van Gundy

November 2nd, 2016 at 7:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pistons will look ahead to summer to resolve the contract situations of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock, writes Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press. Detroit failed to reach extensions with either player by Monday’s deadline, so they will both become restricted free agents on July 1st. Coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said the team had hopes of striking a deal with Bullock almost up to the cutoff point at 11:59pm Eastern Time. “We knew with [Caldwell-Pope] a little bit earlier in the day, Bullock went pretty much through the day, but we just didn’t get either one done,” Van Gundy said. “From our perspective I would say it’s disappointing, but not in any way frustrating or crippling in any way, but we would have liked to have gotten them done and we didn’t.” There is speculation that Caldwell-Pope, who has been Detroit’s starter at shooting guard the past two seasons, could get more than $20MM per year on the open market.

There’s more tonight out of Detroit:

Bullock is eager to get a taste of free agency after watching the huge contracts that were handed out this summer, relays Aaron McMann of MLive. The 6’7″ swingman could be on the move again after playing for three teams in his first three NBA seasons. He got into 37 games with the Pistons last season, averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per night. Bullock sees free agency as a chance to earn a nice raise from the $2,255,644 he’s making this year. “We didn’t come to a decision, and I’m just continuing to look forward to this season,” Bullock said. “Obviously playing more games, trying to do the right things when I’m out on the floor and allow myself to have another chance to sign another contract.”
Van Gundy isn’t a believer in resting players who are physically able to play, McMann writes in a separate piece. Warriors coach Steve Kerr has announced that he plans to give members of his rotation a night off during intense parts of the schedule, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has taken heat for doing that in the past. “That’s up to each coach, I guess, in each organization,” Van Gundy said. “Look, I’m not one to do it. Our guys get paid to play 82 games. Everybody that’s healthy for us will play for us every single night. But that’s just us.”
Auburn Hills Mayor Kevin McDaniel believes the Pistons’ move to downtown Detroit “does appear inevitable,” but he tells Benjamin Raven of MLive that he’s looking on the bright side. The Palace, which has been the team’s home for nearly 30 years, may be converted into a commercial mixed-use facility, which may create even more revenue.

Jennings On Pistons, Jackson

November 1st, 2016 at 7:34pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Brandon Jennings, who is now a member of the Knicks after signing with them this summer, said he knew his time with the Pistons was limited as soon as Detroit acquired Reggie Jackson, Marc Berman of The New York Post relays. “I knew it was over once they got Reggie Jackson,’’ Jennings said. “Just the fact my Achilles injury — nobody knew what to expect from me, how long it would take to come back. Achilles injuries are career-ending injuries. I already knew what time it was.’’ The Pistons traded Jennings to the Magic prior to last season’s trade deadline in the Tobias Harris deal.

Van Gundy Would Be "Surprised" By Extension For KCP Or Bullock

October 31st, 2016 at 3:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Stan Van Gundy continues to express pessimism about reaching an agreement with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Reggie Bullock. Van Gundy said this afternoon he’d be “surprised” if the Pistons lock up either player today, per Rod Beard of The Detroit News (Twitter link).

Ish Smith, Beno Udrih Holding Own In PG Role

October 31st, 2016 at 10:13am CST by Luke Adams

With Reggie Jackson ailing, the Pistons have asked Ish Smith and Beno Udrih to carry the load at point guard early, and those players are delivering, writes Aaron McMann of MLive.com. Smith signed with the team this summer and Udrih was just claimed off waivers last week, but the duo has held its own early in the season for Detroit, as McMann details.

Extension Deals Still Possible

October 30th, 2016 at 10:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

Don’t rule out the possibility of extensions for the Pistons‘ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock before Monday’s deadline, tweets Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said today that he doesn’t expect the deals to get done, but GM Jeff Bower remains in contact with the agents for both players in hopes of getting something in place under the wire.

Ray McCallum Joins Pistons’ D-League Affiliate

October 30th, 2016 at 5:18pm CST by Arthur Hill

Ray McCallum, who was waived Monday by the Pistons, has signed with their D-League affiliate in Grand Rapids, tweets international basketball writer David Pick. He will join Trey Freeman, Nikola Jovanovic and Mamadou N’Diaye as affiliate players, adds Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (Twitter link).

McCallum appeared to have earned a roster spot in Detroit, but was cut when the Pistons claimed veteran point guard Beno Udrih on waviers. Detroit needed depth at that position after an injury sidelined Reggie Jackson for the beginning of the season.

McCallum split last season with the Spurs and Grizzlies, averaging 3.3 points and 1.5 assists in 41 games. He joined the Pistons as a free agent in July, signing a one-year, minimum-salary contract.

Pistons Closing In On Arena Change

October 29th, 2016 at 2:48pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Pistons are moving closer toward a move to downtown Detroit and the new Little Caesar’s Arena, team owner Tom Gores confirmed on Friday, Aaron McMann of MLive.com relays. Gores wouldn’t address specifics regarding the potential deal, but did note that it could happen as early as the 2017/18 season, McMann adds. “If we do it, it’s going to be soon,” Gores said. “I’ve always been relatively transparent with you guys, and we’re getting close. We’re getting close. Look, we’re serious. We’re serious about making this move. And I think we should take it in and enjoy the Palace. It’s been an historic arena.”

If the Pistons do make the move, they would share the arena with the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. Both sides are researching what it would take to retro-fit the still-under-construction venue for basketball, and Pistons ownership is seeking space downtown for executive offices and a team practice facility, McMann writes. “There’s a lot going on down there,” Gores said of downtown Detroit. “If you look at it, you got the Tigers, the Red Wings, the Lions. There’s a lot going on down there. There’s a lot of activity.”

Wizards forward Markieff Morris and his twin brother, Marcus Morris, who is a member of the Pistons, are the subjects of a civil lawsuit in Arizona stemming from an alleged assault last year that has also garnered the pair criminal charges, Candace Buckner of The Washington Post reports. The criminal case is ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for November 4th, Buckner notes.

Progress Cited In Pistons’ Bid For Downtown Arena

October 26th, 2016 at 6:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pistons seem closer to a move back to downtown Detroit, according to Louis Aguilar and Rod Beard of The Detroit News. They report agreement on some “initial issues” to move the team and the NHL’s Red Wings into the new Little Caesars Arena, which is scheduled to be finished in September of next year.

The story cautions that there are still many details to work out, including revenue splits, and that no deal is in place. But it’s possible that an agreement could be announced in the next few weeks or months if negotiations continue to go well.

If the move happens, it would include a separate downtown practice facility for the team, probably on land that belongs to the Ilitch family, which owns the Red Wings. Also to be determined is whether the Pistons would move into the new arena next season or wait until 2018/19. Team owner Tom Gores plans to be in Detroit Thursday and Friday, so more talks may take place then.

Gores tried to buy the Pistons’ current home at the Palace of Auburn Hills, but a $370MM offer he made in June was turned down by Oakland County officials. There were discussions on a long-term lease, but no agreement was worked out.

The Palace has been the Pistons’ home since 1988. Prior to that, they spent a decade at the Pontiac Silverdome. Their last arenas in downtown Detroit were Cobo Hall and Olympia Stadium.

Gores admitted at the team’s media day that he has been discussing a move downtown.

“We’re always assessing it but it’s got to be good for everybody — us included — and for our fans,” he said.