Detroit Pistons Blog – Page 56 – NBA Blog

Detroit Pistons add Terrence Williams and Jonny Flynn to training camp

The Detroit Pistons announced today the addition of guards Terrence Williams and Jonny Flynn to the 2012-13 training camp roster.

Williams was drafted 11th overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 2009 NBA Draft. He’s played in 129 career NBA games with the Nets, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings, averaging 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Williams was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April 2010 while with the Nets where he averaged 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 22.6 minutes while recording eight double-doubles as a rookie.

Flynn was drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft. In 163 NBA games (90 starts) with Minnesota, Houston and Portland, the 2010 NBA All-Rookie second team member has averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 assists and 1.9 rebounds. With the Timberwolves in 2009-10, Flynn ranked fifth among rookies in scoring (13.5 ppg), fourth in free throw accuracy (82.6% FT), fifth in assists (4.4 apg) and seventh in steals (1.01 spg).

Lawrence Frank pleased with Pistons work ethic

Lawrence Frank wouldn’t say whose idea it was to bring a ping-pong table to the practice facility, but the Pistons coach admitted he was pleased with the competitive spirit of the 11 players who have participated in unofficial workouts and are expected to make the roster.

“I mean, this is all voluntarily; they don’t have to be here, and we can’t force them,” Frank said. “Eleven of the 15 have been here, and we expect Jonas (Jerebko) and Slava Kravtsov to be here Tuesday.”

Jerebko and Kravtsov have been at the Eurobasket 2013 qualifying tournament, with Jerebko playing very well and Kravtsov showing promise.

With camp just weeks away, Frank has the luxury of having time to work his players, unlike last season when he, like all teams and coaches, had to deal with a lockout and playing just about every other day.

— Reported by Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press

EMU basketball coach Rob Murphy hopes to work for Orlando Magic

As the Eastern Michigan men’s basketball program sits in limbo, coach Rob Murphy’s contract is an issue.

Murphy, who reportedly wants to leave the Eagles for a job with the Orlando Magic, would be required to pay the university $210,000 to break his contract.

That is equivalent to one year’s salary and would need to be paid in a lump sum or in monthly payments over the remaining term of the five-year contract, which is four more years.

— Reported by Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons sign second round pick Khris Middleton

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed 2012 second-round draft selection Khris Middleton to a contract.

Middleton, who was selected as an early-entry candidate with the 39th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, played three seasons at Texas A&M averaging 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 87 career games. The a 6-7 forward posted averages of 13.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season for the Aggies as a junior, scoring 16.1 points per game over the season’s final seven games. Middleton averaged a career-high 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a sophomore and earned Second Team All-Big 12 and All-District selections. The Charleston, South Carolina native who is known as a creative scorer that excels in the mid-range game shot 36.1% from three-point range (39-108 3FG) during the 2010-11 season and 32.1% (92-287 3FG) for his collegiate career.

Pistons will probably have ads on jerseys soon

Palace Sports & Entertainment president Dennis Mannion said Detroit Pistons jerseys “most probably” will have small sponsorship patches in the future.

The NBA signaled last month that — pending formal league approval — it will allow small patches on the upper left part of jerseys. It’s not exactly going the NASCAR route, but it’s a significant move as the league ponders another revenue stream.

Mannion said Tuesday there have been discussions about offering the space as part of a package with a high-end sponsor.

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Dennis Rodman finally meets estranged father in Manila after 42 years

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has finally met his estranged father after 42 years of separation, following an exhibition game in the Philippines.

Philander Rodman Jr., who has acknowledged fathering 29 children by 16 mothers, says he was happy and surprised that his son agreed to meet him late Wednesday. He tried to meet the basketball Hall of Famer during another game in Manila in 2006.

“It was great,” he said Thursday of the first time he held his son’s hands since they last met in December 1969.

“I’ve been trying to meet him for years. And then last night, boom, I met him. I was really, really happy and very surprised,” he told The Associated Press.

— Reported by Oliver Teves of the Associated Press

Clippers have interest in Darko Milicic

The Los Angeles Clippers signed Grant Hill to a two-year contract Wednesday night to bolster their small forward spot, and the team also reached out to free-agent centers Darko Milicic and Ryan Hollins.

Hill agreed to join the team under the biannual exception, taking a two-year deal that starts at $1.9 million in the first year and has a raise of 4.5 percent in the second.

Hill, who will be 40 in October, is expected to back up Caron Butler at small forward.

The Clippers are expected to hold a news conference next week to formally announce the signing.

— Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times

Pistons sign center Viacheslav Kravtsov

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed free agent center Viacheslav Kravtsov to a multi-year contract.

“We are pleased to add Viacheslav Kravtsov to our roster and welcome him to the organization,” said Joe Dumars, Pistons President of Basketball Operations. “He’s a young player with good size, rebounding and shot-blocking ability. He will provide us with some quality depth at the center position.”

Kravtsov, 24, has been a member of the Ukrainian national team since 2006. The 6-foot-11, 254-pound center was named Ukrainian Superleague Domestic Player of the Year the past two seasons, averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in Superleague play a year ago. He also averaged 8.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in EuroCup play for BC Donetsk, his team the past two seasons after having played for BK Kyiv previously.

Pistons sign second round pick Kim English

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed second round draft selection Kim English to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

English, who was selected with the 44th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, played four seasons at Missouri and averaged 14.1 points (.521 FG), 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a senior. He scored in double figures in 26-of-35 games a year ago, including seven games with 20-plus points. English shot 45.9% from beyond the arc last season and shot better than 36.0% from three-point range in each of his four years with the Tigers. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors as a senior and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 Big 12 Tournament. English averaged 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 24.2 minutes in 141 games at Missouri, shooting 39.4% (239-606 3FG) from three-point range for his career.

Timberwolves waive Darko Milicic via amnesty clause

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived center Darko Milicic, designating him as the team’s amnesty player. The one-time amnesty provision allows a team to waive a player and not have his salary count against the salary cap or luxury tax.

Milicic spent parts of three seasons as Minnesota’s starting center, averaging 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks over 122 games, 110 starts with the Wolves. The Wolves originally acquired the 7-0 center from the New York Knicks on Feb. 17, 2012.