Detroit Pistons Blog – Page 26 – NBA Blog

Pistons, Langston Galloway agree to deal

Here’s the Detroit News reporting on a solid Pistons backcourt addition:

Pistons president Stan Van Gundy said before the start of free agency that the main roster needs were for a scoring guard, a third point guard and a third center.

With one move, the Pistons may have knocked out two-thirds of that shopping list. On Saturday, the Pistons agreed to terms with guard Langston Galloway — reportedly for three years and $21 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski — and may have some other benefits as well.

Galloway, at 6-foot-2, can play either guard spot, but projects more as a reserve shooting guard for the Pistons, with the ability to be the third point guard behind Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith, if pressed into that situation.

Pistons sign Luke Kennard to his rookie contract

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed guard Luke Kennard to his rookie contract.

Kennard, 6-6, 206, was selected 12th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft from Duke. He averaged 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 31.2 minutes during his two-year career as a Blue Devil. As a sophomore at Duke last season, Kennard averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 31.2 minutes in 37 games. A consensus Second Team All-American as a sophomore, Kennard led Duke in scoring (19.5 ppg), while shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc. A final-five candidate for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year award and a member of the John R. Wooden Award All-America Team, he was named the MVP of the 2017 ACC Tournament, averaging 20.0 points and 5.3 rebounds, helping Duke to the ACC Tournament Championship. During his sophomore year, he ranked second in the ACC in scoring (19.5), three-point field goal percentage (43.8%), fourth in free throw percentage (85.6%), seventh in three-pointers per game (2.38) and eighth in field goal percentage (48.9).

A native of Middletown, OH, Kennard averaged 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 26.7 minutes in 36 games as a freshman. His three 20-point games as a freshman were the most by a Duke freshman and he ranked seventh among ACC freshmen in scoring (11.8 ppg).

Pistons sign affiliate extension with Grand Rapids Drive G League team

The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a two-year extension with the Grand Rapids Drive as the team’s G League affiliate. The team also announced that Rex Walters has been named as a Pistons assistant coach and Rob Werdann as head coach of the Grand Rapids Drive. Per team policy, terms of agreements were not disclosed.

“We’re pleased to announce the addition of Rex Walters to our Pistons staff and to name Rob Werdann as head coach of the Grand Rapids Drive,” said Stan Van Gundy, president of basketball operations and head coach of the Detroit Pistons. Rex brings great basketball knowledge and experience and does a great job of developing young players. We were very happy with the way he worked with our young Pistons players last season when they were on assignment in Grand Rapids. Rob has a great deal of coaching and scouting experience in the NBA and knows our organization’s culture and philosophy. We believe he will be a great asset to the Drive.”

Pistons trade Darrun Hilliard to Rockets

The Detroit Pistons have traded guard/forward Darrun Hilliard to the Houston Rockets in exchange for cash considerations, as announced today by General Manager Jeff Bower.

Hilliard appeared in a career-high 39 games (one start) last season with averages of 3.3 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 9.8 minutes. Drafted by the Pistons with the 38th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, Hilliard owns career NBA averages of 3.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 10.1 minutes in 77 games (three starts).

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope suspended

Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been suspended for two games without pay for pleading guilty to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, in violation of the law of the State of Michigan, the NBA announced today.

Caldwell-Pope’s suspension will commence with the next NBA regular season game that he is eligible and physically able to play.

Monta Ellis, Reggie Bullock suspended by NBA

Reggie Bullock and Monta Ellis suspended by NBA

The NBA announced today that Monta Ellis of the Indiana Pacers and Reggie Bullock of the Detroit Pistons have each been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.

Their suspensions will begin with the next NBA regular season game that they are eligible and physically able to play.

New Detroit Pistons logo revealed

The Detroit Pistons unveiled a newly updated primary logo today which the team says brings together the past and future of one of the National Basketball Association’s longest tenured franchises.

The new look will be officially unveiled on the Detroit Pistons podium at tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery.

The Pistons’ new primary logo debuts as a new chapter of the franchise’s history is forming in downtown Detroit. The red, white and blue basketball is symbolic of the Pistons’ brand and this modern version introduces sleek, accurate groove lines, a bold team uniform font and the addition of a chrome outline – providing a nod to the region’s Motor City roots. The updated logo is the result of a six-month design process by the Detroit Pistons’ creative team in collaboration with the NBA and Nike, the official outfitter of the NBA beginning next season.

“The Detroit Pistons new primary logo celebrates the club’s long-standing history in the Detroit sports community, stays true to our brand and reflects a modern design for our future,” said Charlie Metzger, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for the Detroit Pistons. “As our organization begins a new chapter in downtown Detroit, this new logo links the franchise’s rich championship lineage with our exciting prospects for the future.”

Andre Drummond undergoes nose surgery

Here’s the Detroit Free Press reporting on Pistons center Andre Drummond, who recently had a nose-related problem fixed:

Andre Drummond has played well enough though five seasons to become one of the NBA’s top rebounders, earn a spot in an All-Star Game and garner a maximum contract from the Detroit Pistons.

And he did it while breathing through a closed left nostril for the past four seasons.

The Pistons center said Saturday he recently underwent nose surgery in New York City to repair a deviated septum that was first injured while playing at UConn, where he spent one season before entering the NBA draft in 2012.

“(I’ve) been playing with my right nostril for four years because I ended up (injuring my nose) some more after my second season,” Drummond said at an eventin Fenton, where he unveiled his signature “Dre Burger” that has been added to the menu of the Michigan fast-food chain Halo Burger.

“I never really had a chance to really sit down and do a surgery. Last year, we made the playoffs and the year before that, I went to the Olympics. It was really tough for me to be out for six weeks and not be able to do anything.”

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hits game-winner for Pistons

He was tired. His teammates were tired.

So when Stan Van Gundy drew up the play, “an ATO,” out of the timeout with 11 seconds remaining, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope decided to take matters into his own hands.

Caldwell-Pope broke off a screen and took an inbounds pass from Reggie Jackson on the right wing, turned to find himself open and filled up the game-winning triple in the Detroit Pistons’ 125-124 double overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

“I already hit the first two, and I caught the last one in rhythm, so I just got a rhythm shot and just made it,” Caldwell-Pope said. “Knocked it down. And I was ready to go.”

It was the third of three triples in the second overtime for the Pistons’ shooting guard, who finished with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting in 48-plus minutes.

— Michigan Live

Pistons beat Cavs as LeBron James sits

A five-game losing streak that tormented the Pistons in recent weeks, prompting tension inside the locker room and a shuffling of the starting lineup, has finally ended.

The Pistons jumped out to an early lead Monday then held serve rest of the way, using a late-third quarter rally that stretched into the fourth to take down the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-90, at the Palace.

Cleveland was playing without LeBron James, instead opting to give the 12-time All-Star the night off after playing 40 minutes the night prior.

“We were very hungry,” Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson said. “We dropped I don’t know how many in a row. We dropped the last two that were very tough, against Memphis and Golden State, and I thought we played well but didn’t come out with a win.

“We knew they played yesterday, so we got a jump on them early.”

— Michigan Live