No return trip for Jerry Stackhouse
Terry Foster - Detroit News

"Stackhouse played for the Pistons from 1997-2002 and calls it the highlight of his NBA career. He wanted one last fling here and dreamed of retiring as a Piston after Memphis waived him. Dallas traded him there in a four-team, eight-player trade last week.

But it looks like the Pistons are not interested.

"Hey, I would have loved (going back to Detroit)," Stackhouse told The Detroit News on Tuesday from vacation in Virginia. "But I don't think they were interested. They are moving in a different direction. They wanted younger. You know I had a list of teams who were interested in me and I was hoping Detroit would be one of them, but they are more in position to want to bring in the young guys and let them play rather than contending."

No return trip for Jerry Stackhouse | detnews.com | The Detroit News


Pistons working their way back
MICHAEL ROSENBERG - FREE PRESS

"The Pistons, of course, cleared a ton of salary-cap space for the summers of 2009-10. This obviously cost them wins this past season, but it allowed them to rebuild without falling out of the playoff hunt. Anybody who can spell "ESPN" knows LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, among others, are due to be free agents in the summer of 2010.

I think a lot of fans believed -- or at least hoped -- that the Pistons were in position to quickly contend again. And they look at Gordon and Villanueva -- talented players who have yet to make the All-Star team -- and they are disappointed. They think the Pistons are unlikely to make it back to the Eastern Conference finals next season.
I agree: They are unlikely to make the conference finals. But I don't see it as a disappointment.

My expectations are different. I don't think it's realistic to expect the Pistons, who won 59 games in 2007-08, to turn around in 2009-10 and contend with a different core. Frankly, that would be one of the rarest feats in NBA history."

Pistons working their way back | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press


Utah's Carlos Boozer says he expects to be traded ... soon
Freep

"The two-time All-Star told a Chicago radio station today he expects the Jazz to trade him. The Pistons have long been rumored to be interested in the Duke product. Boozer told WMVP that he and the Jazz agreed to work out a trade that benefits everybody involved.

Boozer said he expected to be traded relatively soon."

Utah's Carlos Boozer says he expects to be traded ... soon | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press


Pistons eye ex-Magic coach Brian Hill for lead assistant spot
VINCE ELLIS - FREE PRESS

"LAS VEGAS – The Pistons are expected to add another assistant coach to their staff and one of the candidates will be former NBA head coach Brian Hill.

Holdover assistants Pat Sullivan and Darrell Walker, who are both coaching the summer-league team, are assured spots on new coach John Kuester’s staff, but the franchise is in the market for a lead assistant and Hill would fit the bill.

Currently an assistant for the New Jersey Nets, Hill was the head coach for Orlando for two separate stints. Kuester was on Hill’s Magic staff during the 2006-07 season."

Pistons eye ex-Magic coach Brian Hill for lead assistant spot | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press


No interest right now in bringing back Ben Wallace
Vince Ellis - Freep

"But a person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday that the Pistons are focusing on options other than Wallace, 34.

But with $3.2 million left to address a gaping hole in the frontcourt -- Charlie Villanueva, Jason Maxiell and Kwame Brown are the only big men on the roster -- the Pistons' options are limited.

Wallace, traded to the Suns last month as part of the deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland, probably would command the league minimum of just over $1 million.

Earlier this off-season, Wallace mentioned the possibility of retiring."

No interest right now in bringing back Ben Wallace | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

__________________


"Evolution does not necessarily reward intelligence. With no natural predators to thin the herd, it began to simply reward those who reproduced the most and left the intelligent to become an endangered species." Idiocracy

Transcript of today's chat with Pistons writer Vince Ellis
Free Press Staff

"12:29 Freep: Great ... we've already gotten lots of questions so let's get to it ...


12:29 Dennis Ross: Do any of this years picks look like legit reserves that may challenge for playing time, this year.

12:30: Vince Ellis: To quote assistant Darrell Walker, Summer is NBA-ready. I think Jerebko may get lost in the numbers game but he can play. Daye has shown a great court presence, but he's a year away.


12:30 ea: Will detroit end up tradeing rip or prince, or both?

12:31 Vince Ellis: I would guess no right now, but that's a guess. From what a source told me yesterday, don't rule anything out when it comes to free agency.


12:31 Ricky Currey: What do you think will be Joe Dumars next move? (Trade or FA)

12:32 Vince Ellis: I would guess FA, but again it's just a guess.


12:32 Sam (Macomb): There is a rumor that Pistons might send Rip to Atlanta for Joe Johnson, is there any merit to this?

12:32: Vince Ellis: Hadn't heard that one. Everything I've heard is efforts to get a big man.

12:33 Vince Ellis: Johnson ain't that, lol."

Transcript of today's chat with Pistons writer Vince Ellis | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press


Carlos Boozer: 'I Will Be Traded'
Tom Ziller - Fanhouse

"That salvo in large type came in a Carlos Boozer interview on ESPN's Chicago affiliate. Last weekend, the Salt Lake Tribune cited Jazz sources claiming Boozer had a ticket for the first train outta Utah. Boozer's confirmation is icing, and we ought to get used to the thought: Boozer opted in, but the Jazz are opting out.

The thrust of Boozer's appearance on a Chicago-based show emphasizes the current conventional wisdom, that the Bulls would be the best depot for the Booz Train to pull into. It will, of course, be tricky, as Utah needs to expunge salary while earning even a minor, minor prize in the swap. The Bulls are well over the cap this season, so a third team must get involved. Who could it be?

But there are other options for Chicago and Utah to turn toward. Like Sacramento, Memphis or Oklahoma City, who all sit on cap space. Portland's the easiest friend in cap terms, but all three young rosters could be willing to help the Bulls get a post scorer while helping Utah get out of trouble."

Carlos Boozer: 'I Will Be Traded' -- NBA FanHouse


Latest chatter: A.I., Odom and others
Marc Stein - ESPN

"The early sense I get is that the Mavericks have little interest in using their midlevel exception -- which is back in their possession after Orlando confirmed its intention to match a five-year, $34 million offer to Gortat -- to play the restricted free-agent game again with Boston's Glen Davis.


Detroit, by contrast, really covets Big Baby, whose modest $711,517 salary last season didn't stop him from stepping in admirably for injured Kevin Garnett in the playoffs. The Pistons' problem is that their offer can start in only the $3 million range compared with $5.9 million in Dallas' case, raising the obvious fear that the rival Celtics could tie up the Pistons' money for seven days, then match."

NBA free agents: The latest chatter on Allen Iverson, Lamar Odom - ESPN


Boozer on WMVP: I'm going to be traded
Mike McGraw - Herald

"Q: Are you set on free agency (in 2010)?
A: I’d definitely be open to signing an extension and be locked into a team. Obviously, one that wanted me to be there in the future and one I thought would have a chance to succeed. That would be something me and my agent would explore right away.
Q: Could you influence Dwayne Wade to come to Chicago?
A: Well, me and D-Wade are very close. We talk quite a bit, but that’s a decision he has to make with himself and obviously if I did come to the Bulls … I’d love to have D-Wade play for us. At the same time, D-Wade is like me and wants to win a championship bad. If I was able to go to the Bulls and get D-Wade to come, we’d be right there at the top of the list.

Q: Can you stay healthy?
A: Absolutely. I’ve had a couple of spells, injuries that I can’t control, but my body feels 100 percent. I’m healthy and doing really well. I’m looking forward to next season so much to prove to everybody that I can play through the whole season and at the same time to dominate again, so I’m looking forward to it."

Boozer on WMVP: I'm going to be traded | DailyHerald.com Blogs


Bench may be biggest hurdle in Iverson-to-Clips deal
David Aldridge - TNT - NBA.Com

"Pistons eyeing 'Big Baby?'

Meanwhile, the Pistons, no longer among the Eastern Conference's power teams, are trying to build a new team on the fly, and will try to add anther piece in the next week at the expense of one of their old rivals, the Boston Celtics. A Monday trade of guards Arron Afflalo and Walter Sharpe to the Denver Nuggets was done to help make a run at Celtics restricted free agent forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis, according to several sources.

But the Pistons will have trouble creating enough cap room in order to make a serious run at Davis, who starred for the Celtics in Kevin Garnett's absence in the playoffs. After Monday's trade, which cleared an additional $1.8 million in cap room, Detroit only has eight players under contract, not including its three drafted players -- Austin Daye, DeJuan Summers and Jonas Jurebko. (The Pistons will keep all three of their rookies.) "

NBA.com: Bench may be biggest hurdle in Iverson-to-Clips deal

__________________


"Evolution does not necessarily reward intelligence. With no natural predators to thin the herd, it began to simply reward those who reproduced the most and left the intelligent to become an endangered species." Idiocracy

Patience required for Kuester hire to work
John Evans - CM-Life.com

"We feel very good to have him here," Dumars said. "He has seen a lot since 1990, and he has a little more experience (than Michael Curry), and that's why I'm comfortable sitting here and introducing John Kuester as our head coach."

"Comfortable" would not be the word I use to describe Pistons fans just quite yet, but fans - especially those in Michigan - should realize Kuester's experience needs to count for something.

He was the Pistons assistant head coach in 2004-05 under Larry Brown when Detroit won its third championship. He also helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to the best record in the NBA in 2008-2009.

Last season was a mess in Detroit, and not one person expected the Pistons to go anywhere in the playoffs. The drama of the Allen Iverson trade that sent Chauncey Billups out of town did not help the cause one bit.

Nothing here can be blamed on former first-year coach Michael Curry. He was basically thrown into the fire without the ability or support to get out. It may be time, as Dumars points out, to lower those expectations.

"The expectations have been extremely high (in Detroit) over the past seven years," Dumars said. "We simply want to be headed in the right direction; it used to be if we didn't make the Finals, it was a disappointment. That's just not the case anymore."

EVANS | Patience required for Kuester hire to work - Sports


I'd Rather Have Ratko Varda back
Toasterhands - LifeOnDumars

"I’d rather spend money on a player who had literally a sip of coffee in the NBA than spend it on Ben Wallace. And for some of you that know me or have frequented the site, I love Big Ben.

But it is absurd to waste a roster spot on a guy that would have no future with the team. Ben doesn’t have any lift or explosion left anymore. NONE. Therefore he is essentially useless. It’s not like he developed a good jumper like Charles Oakley did and can be of some use to a team."

I’d Rather Have Ratko Varda Back | Life On Dumars | A Detroit Pistons Blog


WNBA All-Star game starers to be announced Wednesday night
Steve St. Pierre - InPlayMagazine.com

"The starters for the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game as selected by the fans will be announced live on ESPN2 during Tuesday's telecast of the Los Angeles Sparks and Connecticut Sun game. As ofballoting first returns, Diana Taurasi was the leading vote-getter overall while Tamika Catchings was tops among Eastern Conference players. All-Star reserves will be announced July 20 while the All-Star game will take place on July 25 at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC."

Detroit Pistons-Shock Courtside by In Play! Magazine: WNBA All-Star Game Starters to be Unveiled Tuesday Night on ESPN2

Should Kuester Rent or Buy?
DJ - The Wages of Win Journal

"Channeling Isiah"

"If we focus on scoring, though, another story is told. Stuckey, Hamilton, Villanueva, Bynum, and Gordon are all above average scorers. Such a collection of scorers suggests that Dumars might now be channeling his inner-Isiah. Back in 2004 the Pistons won an NBA title with a leading scorer (Richard Hamilton) only averaging 17.6 points per game. Meanwhile, Isiah was building a team of scorers in New York that kept missing the playoffs.

When we look at the team Dumars is currently assembling, one suspects that Isiah called his former back-court mate and said: “you know, a team of scorers really should win in the NBA. In New York we didn’t have the right chemistry. But I know you can create the right atmosphere in Detroit for this idea to work. Really.”

Unfortunately for fans of the Pistons (and I am one of these), the Isiah model really doesn’t work. So the team Dumars has assembled is probably going struggle next year. The veterans currently on the roster only produced 28.7 wins last season. So even if Austin Daye is amazing and the team signs Wallace (and he is still productive), this team is still going to struggle to reach 40 wins (again, trading for Boozer might change this forecast some)."

Should Kuester Rent or Buy? « The Wages of Wins Journal

Tigers at the break?Joe D- what are you thinking?
whucares musings - Sporting News Blogger

"Now - the Pistons. 3-4 yrs ago, Joe Dumars was looked upon as one of the best, if not the best, GMs' in the NBA. What the hell happened? He is on his 6th head coach. The last impact player he drafted was Prince, and this years draft IMO, was laughable. When he fired Curry- he said he is going for "experience" and they give us Koester? No knock on him, but, Joe D- why the turnaround? I can understand not paying Avery Johnson, but you had dave Cowens, for one, right at the end of your bench, and he had head coaching experience.

Two years ago, Dumars was touting Amir Johnson, who was let go for a bag of Doritos. Jason Maxiel has "maxed" You've alienated Rip. I can defend better than Stuckey, and then you waste the 15th overall pick on the a guy that is a project at best. Oh, and a Swedish white guy. The Iverson debacle- and it goes on and on. Now this drek? 35 wins the next to years and then the "savior" with the 2010 cap money."

Sporting News - Your expert source for MLB Baseball, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball and Fantasy Sports scores, blogs, and articles

Judging Joe Dumars, as the Detroit Pistons rebuild
Dave Dial - Mlive

"Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press has a very good article about the Detroit Pistons, and the rebuilding effort by Joe Dumars. Rosenberg asks, 'What do you expect from your teams'?"

Judging Joe Dumars, as the Detroit Pistons rebuild - Full-Court Press

Ben Wallace back with the Pistons? Bad idea JAMIE SAMUELSEN • FREE PRESS

"Would Ben Wallace be a good fit for the Pistons at this point?


Absolutely! When I look at what the Pistons need, it’s an aging, injured, one-dimensional player who isn’t nearly as good as he was four years ago. He is the definition of an NBA contender's missing link. Without Ben, the Pistons are just a cut below the Cavs, Magic and Celtics in the East. But add Ben, and a return trip to the NBA Finals is a virtual lock.

Please. We’re just kidding about this, right? Is this one of those crazy April Fool's Day bits that radio stations try to pull? Is there anyone out there that thinks this is a remotely good idea? Wallace was a shell of his former self last season, and that was before he broke his leg and toyed with retirement. Fortunately, the Pistons seem to have little interest in this option. So either Ben’s camp floated this or someone in the NBA's inner circles decided to throw it at the wall."

Ben Wallace back with the Pistons? Bad idea | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

He sort of burned that bridge IMO when he made the comment to CB, Rip, and Tay that "I told you how they were."

Detroit Pistons Summer League: Game Four Recap
Bleacher Report - CBS Sports

"The real standout of this game was Austin Daye who finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and one block while shooting over 50% from the field. Daye showed his versatility by displaying good ball handling skills and also nailing a handful of catch and shoot opportunities.

His ball handling abilities definitely were showcased on a nice shake and bake move, in which he was fouled on the shot, to open the second quarter.

Daye and Summers seemed to take over the third quarter with Daye flushing home a hard dunk, then Summers hitting a shot three seconds after rolling in a lay-up.

In fact, Summers had a rough shooting night in the first half but managed to turn it on in to start the third quarter and kept it going the rest of the game.

Summers finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, and one block on 11-21 shooting. Summers continued to be a brute force for the Pistons in the paint, knocking players to the ground while going for lay-ups and slamming down hard jams. "

Detroit Pistons Summer League: Game Four Recap | Bleacher Report

Marquise Gray, Travis Walton making most of short stint on Pistons' summer-league team Phillip Zaroo - MLive

"After a college career that didn't quite live up to the hype he got coming out of Flint Beecher, former Michigan State forward Marquise Gray is doing his best to make a living at the pro level.

The Detroit Pistons added the 6-foot-8, 235-pounder to their summer-league squad, along with Gray's old MSU teammate, Travis Walton.

Gray averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game over his four years as a Spartan, while Walton, a guard, averaged 4.2 points, 3.9 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game during his college career."

Marquise Gray, Travis Walton making most of short stint on Pistons' summer-league team - Gang Green