Detroit Pistons: 2009 NBA Draft

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:59:53 -0700

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

- We’ll update our Team Capsules with more specific info once the lottery is complete.

Detroit Pistons

2008-09 Record: 39-43

Draft Picks: Projected (15, 39, 44)

Key Free Agents: Will Bynum (restricted), Antonio McDyess, Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace

How they got here:

It was a quick fall from grace from the Pistons, who averaged nearly 57 wins over the past five seasons before stumbling to a below-.500 record and a quick playoff exit this year. The trade that brought Allen Iverson to the Motor City for Chauncey Billups will go down as a disaster, as the team totally lost their defensive identity, offensive chemistry and championship-level swagger. The team will likely undergo some major changes in the off-season, as Wallace and Iverson are likely gone, and key players like Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince could also be moved. The team has a solid building block in guard Rodney Stuckey, although he may not ever reach superstar status. They also have some solid rotation players in Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell, but all were plagued by inconsistency.

GM Joe Dumars has some interesting decisions to make…does he blow up the team and rebuild with the youngsters, or try to bring in some veterans around Hamilton and Prince to make another run? Regardless, the Pistons will almost certainly have an entirely different look next season, and Dumars hopes, a new attitude to go with it.

Who they’ll take:

With Wallace and McDyess likely out the door, the Pistons will need some help up front. Unfortunately, outside of Blake Griffin, the draft appears devoid of post players who could provide offense. However, Dumars may look for players who can contribute defensively, such as Mississippi State’s Jarvis Varnado. The team could also use a true point guard to run the offense, as Stuckey is more of a scorer. Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn, or UNC’s Ty Lawson would be good fits, and they bring a winning attitude that the locker room desperately needs. If the team moves Hamilton and/or Prince, they’ll also look at some wing players to fill that void, such as Memphis’ Tyreke Evans, Arizona’s Chase Budinger, or Wake Forest’s James Johnson.

Draft History:

2008: DJ White (29), Deron Washington (59)

2007: Rodney Stuckey (15), Arron Afflalo (27), Sammy Meija (57)

2006: Will Blalock (60)

2005: Jason Maxiell (26), Amir Johnson (56), Alex Acker (60)

2004: Rickey Paulding (54)

2003: Darko Milicic (2), Carlos Delfino (25), Andreas Glyniadakis (58)

2002: Tayshaun Prince (23)

2001: Rodney White (9), Mehmet Okur (38)

2000: Mateen Cleaves (14), Brian Cardinal (44)

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

Top Prospects

Stephen Curry - PG/SG - Davidson

Tyreke Evans - PG/SG - Memphis

Blake Griffin - PF - Oklahoma

James Harden - SG - Arizona State

Jordan Hill - PF - Arizona

Ty Lawson - PG - UNC

BJ Mullens - C - Ohio State

Ricky Rubio - PG - DKV Joventut

Brandon Jennings - PG - Arizona

Hasheem Thabeet - C - UCONN

NBA: Sunday Training Camp Scoop

Hoopsworld — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:11:19 -0700

By: Joel Brigham

Training Camp Injuries

Several teams across the league are seeing guys get hurt during early practices, putting fear into a lot of fans' hearts before the season even starts. The Dallas Mavericks for example already have lost Jason Kidd and Josh Howard for stretches at recent practices, and the Chicago Bulls have had issues with Joakim Noah's eye and sprained ankles for Thabo Sefolosha and Aaron Gray.

And these are just the first that come to mind—several teams are seeing sprained ankles and twisted knees and other minor lacerations. If we didn't know any better, we'd assume teams were going to start dipping into their NBDL teams to put enough guys on the floor for the start of season. But don't fret, folks. These guys are going to be fine.

From now until the season starts, there really is no reason to take any chances with guys who get hurt, even though those injuries are minor. By the time the season starts, most rosters will be at full strength ready to roll.

Tinsley Deal Still Looming

The latest from HOOPSWORLD's Travis Heath is that several league sources expect the Jamaal Tinsley-to-Denver deal to be consummated in the next few days. The Nuggets keep saying that nothing is imminent, and Chucky Atkins and Steven Hunter have still been attending practices, but people around the league keep insisting it's going to happen.

Considering people in Colorado are still bent out of shape about Marcus Camby being shipped away for literally nothing, it would be nice to see Denver pick up the point guard they need so badly without having to really give anything up. Nothing is done yet, though, but we should have a definitive idea in the next few days.

Pistons Finally Pick Fifth Starter

It's not that this a huge surprise, but Pistons head coach Michael Curry has named Amir Johnson as the team's fifth starter. Several weeks ago the team made it clear that former starter Antonio McDyess would be heading back to the bench to open up a starting spot for one of the team's burgeoning young post players.

While Johnson has long been considered the likely candidate to fill that role, the drama involved came from the possibility that Jason Maxiell would be the new starter. Seeing McDyess and Maxiell on the bench, along with potential breakout guard Rodney Stuckey, gives the Pistons one of the deepest teams they've had in years.

Happy Time in the NBA

About 90% of the articles you're going to read in the newspapers over the next few weeks are going to be disgustingly optimistic. This is not a time when you're going to hear a lot in terms of trade rumors because most organizations are comfortable with what they've currently got heading into the season. Instead, we're all talking about possibilities and mumbling optimism—the only time all season when fans of all thirty teams have hope. You never know what time will be surprisingly excellent, and which team will be surprisingly bad. Now is the time to enjoy the hope, folks. We get started for real in just a few weeks!

detroit pistons

Detroit Pistons: 2009 NBA Draft

NBA: Sunday Training Camp Scoop