Category: Detroit Pistons Blog

Pistons owner Tom Gores said Tuesday that the time is right for his NBA team to move out of its suburban home and into the city to share Little Caesars Arena with the Red Wings.

“This is great for the Detroit Pistons. It is the right call. It’s time for us to do it,” Gores said. “It is an incredible arena. Every fan will believe it’s incredible.”

He said the move will greatly benefit the city economically, creating “thousands of jobs” and “hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.”

Ilitch Holdings CEO Christopher Ilitch and Mayor Mike Duggan were alongside Gores for the announcement.

“For the first time in 43 years, all four Detroit sports teams will be playing in the city of Detroit,” Duggan said.

— Michigan Live

InsideHoops.com Quick Take: This should help downtown Detroit a lot. And Detroit needs it. Can’t complain about this move.

Here’s Michigan Live reporting on a few Pistons players, one of whom — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — could be a key building block for the future. Maybe.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shot himself out of another mini slump Sunday, helping the Detroit Pistons to a 98-83 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

A day later, he’ll be spending some time on the phone with his agents.

The Pistons face an 11:59 p.m. ET Monday deadline to ink contract extensions with Caldwell-Pope and guard Reggie Bullock. If they fail to come to an agreement — and Pistons president-coach Stan Van Gundy didn’t sound too optimistic Sunday night deals would get done — then both would become restricted free agents at season’s end.

Here’s Michigan Live reporting on the Pistons, who may head from the suburbs into the city within the next year:

The Detroit Pistons could have a new home for the 2017-18 season.

The team is positioning itself for a move to the new Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit, team owner Tom Gores confirmed Friday.

Gores, founder of the Los Angeles-based private equity firm Platinum Equity, said a deal is not in place but he and his representatives have had “really good conversations” with the Ilitch family, owners of the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and investor for the new arena.

“If we do it, it’s going to be soon,” Gores said before what could be the Pistons’ final home opener at the Palace of Auburn Hills. “I’ve always been relatively transparent with you guys, and we’re getting close. We’re getting close.”

Pistons forward Tobias Harris averaged 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds for the 49 games he played for the Magic before his midseason trade to the Pistons, for whom he averaged 16.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in 27 games. Entering 2016-17, he’s a key Piston. Here’s the Detroit News with an update:

Add forward Tobias Harris to the growing Pistons injury list.

Stan Van Gundy said Harris suffered a non-displaced fracture of his nose in Monday’s exhibition victory over the Bucks.

“It’s not as bad as it could’ve been, but he needs to get fitted for a mask,” Van Gundy said Tuesday. “He’s seeing a specialist and should be ready to go (tonight).”

Van Gundy also said backup center Aron Baynes, who missed last weekend’s exhibition against the 76ers with back spasms and was a game-time decision against the Bucks, took an inadvertent shot to the face from rookie Henry Ellenson early during practice and had to leave.