Foresight is key in drafting NBA contracts
by KEITH LANGLOIS

The highest-paid Piston for the season that continues without them was Rasheed Wallace at $10.26 million. Go ahead and guess who was second. I'll cure cancer while you tick off the possibilities.

Ben Wallace? Nope.

Rip Hamilton? Nuh-uh.

Chauncey Billups? Nice try.

Tayshaun Prince isn't just wrong. It's wrong times five.

NBA: Post-mortem on Pistons isn’t pretty
by Mark Rothstein

There is no joy in Motown.




Here's what went wrong with the Pistons
by Chris Stevens

It's been over a week since the Detroit Pistons got bounced from the NBA playoffs, but I'm still hearing people talk about what happened to the Motor City boys.

Here's my take:




THE OFF-SEASON | THE PISTONS: Mining for hidden gold with the final pick
by Krista Jahnke

The Pistons hold only the final pick in the June 28 draft -- that would be No. 60 overall -- but don't think they aren't picking up frequent flier miles trying to find a gem.

Pistons vice president John Hammond and the entire scouting staff spent much of last week in Orlando, checking out the predraft camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

Minor leagues expanding, Fort Wayne a potential site
by DERRICK GINGERY

Local officials have taken calls recently about bringing professional basketball back to Fort Wayne, as several minor leagues undergo expansions.

But while nothing serious has emerged, scheduling conflicts may present problems for a team looking to play at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The tie in? The Pistons franchise was born in Fort Wayne. That is where Fred Zollner's auto parts business was based.



Dumars responsible for preventing repeat of Pistons' past
by A.J. Hakim

With great power comes great responsibility.

After a disappointing, lackluster end to an otherwise incredible season, Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars has a responsibility to fans to improve the team and to prevent history from repeating itself.

It is now as it was during the Bad Boys' reign and championship years of 1989 and 1990. Coach Chuck Daly relied heavily on his core players—Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson—and allowed little time for developing young talent to experience on-court, game atmosphere.

This article is crap. If you're going to publish an opinion, it's obligatory to do some background research, not regurgitate everything other's have written. If you're wondering, the don't re-sign Ben part is what set me off.




Economic slam-dunk
Media exposure during NBA Finals is worth millions
by Jim Freer

The NBA Finals and surrounding hoopla could generate about $15 million in economic activity and more than $60 million in free national and international publicity for South Florida.

Those estimates are from sports marketing consultants who expect Miami and Miami Beach to receive Shaq-size shares of those dollars.


Looks like Detroit *cough* Auburn Hills *cough* loses out on some serious moola. Boo hoo hoo.

Some nice finds Roscoe...
It can be a challange trying to find quality pieces in the summer.
Sometimes it would be nice to comment on these articles... but I'm sure you don't want to clutter the media threads with commentary...
What's the recommended procedure for comments?

That is #9 on my offseason list.

Comment here or copy to a new thread in the meantime. Your best judgement is good enough for me.

__________________
Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

Full Court Press Weblog:Ben Wallace FA update: Headed west?

June 12, Fox Sports: 1. Ben Wallace, DET - Big Ben has been a landmark in London, England the 148 years. The NBA's version has been a monument at center in Detroit the past six seasons. He's free to go this summer. and by the sound of it he's going to test the market. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year has said it's not definite he'll be back in Detroit. He's helped the Pistons make it to at least the Eastern Conference finals each of the past four seasons, but is not a lock to return.

Kelvin Cato shows off

For many Pistons fans, Kelvin Cato was little more than a curiosity stuck on the end of the bench halfway through the season. He played in just eight games for Detroit in the regular season and playoffs combined, totaling all of 49 minutes. With his contract set to expire in just a few weeks, he'll [...]

It is officially the offseason when we're watching YouTube video of a Cato fluke dunk.




What might have been
The Fort Wayne Pistons played for the NBA title in 1956
by Blake Sebring

Perhaps the greatest comeback in Fort Wayne sports history celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, but it also led to perhaps the city’s greatest sports disappointment.

In their last great run in Fort Wayne before moving to Detroit in 1957, the Pistons advanced to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year in 1956, only to fall short once again.

FW papers coming on strong!




5 Michiganians own out-of-state teams
by LARRY LAGE

DETROIT - The Carolina Hurricanes are a win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup and making Peter Karmanos Jr. the third Detroit-area owner in four NHL seasons to win a title.

Karmanos is part of an exclusive club of Michigan businessmen who own professional sports teams in and out of the state.

Like Karmanos, Ralph Wilson (Buffalo Bills), Rich DeVos (Orlando Magic), Bill Davidson (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Dan Gilbert (Cleveland Cavaliers) didn't allow not-for-sale franchises in their home state to stop them from experiencing the joy and pain of owning a team.

This was an AP piece that I was too lazy to find a local publisher for. Interesting read on the number of sports franchise owners from Michigan including Bill Davidson but also covering DeVos, Karmanos and Illitch.

Word on the Street

The Pistons were reportedly initially hoping to draft Ukrainian big man Kyrylo Fesenko late in the 2nd round, and asked his agent to “hide” him overseas with a 2nd round promise so no one else catches wind of him. Fesenko smartened up, though, and decided to make his way over to the States to work out for NBA teams, which likely nullifies his promise by Detroit.




Stackhouse defined by perceptions
Dallas star says what people think about him has changed
by RACHEL COHEN

DALLAS - People see Jerry Stackhouse testifying before Congress to promote diabetes research.

They hear about him punching a teammate over a card game.

They listen to him sing the national anthem at American Airlines Center.

They read how he couldn't share the spotlight with a teammate.

And they don't know what to think.





Going to great depths
Stackhouse thrives in newfound role as reserve with Dallas
by Chris Tomasson

MIAMI - Antoine Walker bristled recently when it was suggested he is a member of the Miami Heat's supporting cast.

Say that about Jerry Stackhouse's role with the Dallas Mavericks and he considers it a compliment.

"I don't think it's looked at as a negative thing," Stackhouse said. "It's looked at as a positive."





Finals worth wait for Stack
Former Piston relishes role with Mavericks
by KRISTA JAHNKE

MIAMI -- A week ago, as the Dallas Mavericks embarked on their first NBA Finals, the man who spent 11 seasons getting there -- with layovers in Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington -- got a message that socked him in the heart.




Substitute role suits Stackhouse
Former Piston brings a spark to Mavericks as the sixth man and is two victories from first title.
by Eric Gay

MIAMI -- Jerry Stackhouse admits he's still a slasher at heart and a streaky shooter by nature.

Some habits are tough to break.

Yet Stackhouse, a former Piston, is far from the player he was early in his career.

No longer his team's top scorer and not even a starter, Stackhouse also is happier than ever. He's embraced his role as a sixth man and is doing it so well he could soon become an NBA champion for the first time.

Kentucky Basketball: Top 10 All-Time NBA Players

TWO Pistons!





Hicks tries to match Max
Washington tutoring forward
by BILL KOCH

Eric Hicks has made no secret of his desire to follow in the footsteps of Jason Maxiell, his friend and former University of Cincinnati teammate.

After a solid senior season and a strong showing in the NBA prospects camps, Maxiell was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the first round last summer.

Another tweener power forward from UC. With the move away from post up big men to athletic 7 foot jump shooters, I'm not so sure these guys are overmatched anymore.




Former Raptors coach O'Neill returns to McGill to host basketball clinic

MONTREAL (CP) - Former Toronto Raptors head coach Kevin O'Neill is returning to his alma mater to host a basketball clinic at McGill University on Saturday

His college nickname was "Mad Dog". Priceless if you know about O'Neill throwing drunken demolition fests in his hotel room while coaching the Raptors.




Pistons will meet Heat in Puerto Rico

If only Carlos Arroyo were still a member of the Pistons.

The NBA announced Wednesday the Pistons will play an exhibition against the Miami Heat in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 10. The Pistons traded Arroyo, a native of Puerto Rico, to Orlando in February.

The event, NBA Puerto Rico 2006, will be the 23rd NBA game played in Latin America since 1992. It's the sixth exhibition season contest held there.

ja, ja, ja...

Why are we still talking about Larry Brown?

I've noticed a couple of articles from random media types calling for the Pistons to bring back Larry Brown — MLive's Full-Court Press points out a columnist from the Orlando Sentinel as well as ESPN's Scoop Jackson. I'm not surprised people are suggesting as much (I know a few DBB readers have done so in [...]

We are still talking about Larry Brown because people outside of the Detroit market, who do not have a co-dependent relationship with Pistons management/ownership realize that despite his massively flawed character and personality issues, Brown is one of the great all-time coaches.


Are the Pistons thinking about trading up?

On June 28, the NBA will hold their annual draft. For many NBA fans, that means scouring the internet for mock drafts and reading up on all the top prospects. But for Pistons fans, it means very little.
The Pistons traded the rights to their first-round pick to the Jazz last season in exchange for [...]

Nice YouTube video of one of the PGs mentioned in the Draft Express article from yesterday.




NBA Comix

More Farlane goodness...


New Detroit Pistons Screensaver