Detroit Pistons Blog – Page 58 – NBA Blog

Detroit Pistons hope to keep Jason Maxiell

Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars would like to have power forward Jason Maxiell return next season.

But as he put it at his season-ending media availability last month, the decision is up to Maxiell, who has until June 30 to let the team know whether he will pick up his option of $5 million.

“It’s a player option so that’s totally in his hands,” Dumars said. “Obviously we’d love to have Max back.

“I think clearly this was his best year. He was in the best shape of his life. He looked great.”

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Kyle Singler helping out Real Madrid overseas

Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has been in Spain watching 2011 second-round pick Kyle Singler.

Singler, a forward from Duke selected by the Pistons with the 33rd overall pick, scored just three points in 10 minutes for Real Madrid in an 86-83 loss to Regal Barcelona on Thursday. He rebounded Sunday by scoring eight points on 3-for-6 shooting with two free throws in 21 minutes in a 95-82 victory over FIATC Joventut.

Singler has averaged 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in eight games for Real Madrid in the Euroleague and 7.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 24 games for Real Madrid in the Spanish League. Real Madrid next plays May 17 against Cajasol in the Spanish League quarterfinals.

— Reported by Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press

Deng, Gordon, Byron Mullens to play for Britain at London Olympic games

Ben Gordon and Byron Mullens haven’t worn the Great Britain jersey before but both NBA players have been included in the country’s preliminary squad for the London Games.

The London-born and United States-raised Gordon, who plays for the Detroit Pistons, is a former teammate of British superstar Luol Deng in Chicago while Mullens has a United Kingdom passport because his mother hails from England.

In a statement issued by British Basketball, Gordon said: “I am very excited to pull on the GB jersey this summer and play for my country.

“To be invited into camp is the first step in that journey and I am immensely proud to have the opportunity.” …

Mullens revealed on his Twitter account last month that he would be with the Brits and included a photo of recently received UK passport.

He tweeted: “Yessir. I will be in London this summer! 2012 Olympics.”

— Reported by FIBA.com

FIU has fired coach Isiah Thomas

FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced today that Isiah Thomas has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the FIU men’s basketball program.

“We want to thank Isiah Thomas for his three years here at FIU,” Garcia said. “However, we have decided to take the program in a different direction.”

A national search for the Panthers’ next head basketball coach will begin immediately.

According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, “Thomas signed a five-year deal with FIU, taking nothing in base salary for his first season and agreeing to a deal where he would receive nearly half of any gross revenues from ticket sales, commissions collected on food and beverage concessions and sponsorships. But FIU never generated the buzz it and Thomas envisioned. The Panthers averaged 1,071 fans at home this season, nearly four times that many on the road. “We just needed a break here or a break there, and it’s not happening for us,” Thomas said last month, shortly after FIU’s 8-21 season ended with a loss to eventual Sun Belt tournament champion Western Kentucky. “I know we’re getting there. We’ve had so many close games. If we keep working, good things will happen.”

Dennis Rodman says he’s broke

Dennis Rodman can’t afford to pay more than $800,000 in back child support … because he’s dead ass broke — this according to new court documents.

Dennis’ ex-wife Michelle Rodman filed new papers this month, claiming The Worm owes $808,935 in unpaid child support for his 9- and 10-year-old children — and an additional $51,441 in unpaid spousal support.

But Dennis’ attorney responded to the filing, insisting there’s no way the Chicago Bulls legend can pay those bills — because “Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees.”

— Reported by TMZ

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Allen Iverson to play for a team in the Dominican Republic

Former NBA star Allen Iverson is joining a regional basketball league in the Dominican Republic for a month.

(LATEST UPDATE: Iverson’s manager denied the report.)

Team president Milton Nunez told The Associated Press on Thursday the 36-year-old guard will play for Pueblo Nuevo. He declined to say how much Iverson will be paid.

Iverson is to arrive Sunday and play for his second-place team that same day against GUG in Santiago province, Nunez said.

“He and his agent have told us that he has been training a lot and that even if he hasn’t been playing anywhere, he has what we need to help Pueblo Nuevo,” Nunez said.

— Reported by the Associated Press

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Ben Gordon scores 45, but Pistons lose to Nuggets

JaVale McGee’s debut with the Denver Nuggets was punctuated by a smashing finish.

And the Nuggets needed it to overcome Ben Gordon’s record-tying night from 3-point range.

McGee soared into the lane to rebound a teammate’s missed free throw and dunk with 5 seconds remaining, and the Nuggets withstood Gordon’s season-high 45 points for a 116-115 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

McGee’s rebound and slam followed a missed foul shot by Arron Afflalo, who was fouled while making a driving layup with 5.6 seconds left. That basket pulled the Nuggets within 115-114 after they had blown a 25-point lead…

Gordon, who tied the NBA record by going 9 for 9 behind the arc, said the loss was especially tough to take after coming all the way back.

“We had our shots, we just had two bad possessions at the end,” Gordon said. “Obviously the Afflalo drive; we fouled him while he was driving to the basket while we were up three. Should have just let him get the two. And the tip dunk by McGee. It came off the rim so fast and he got up there.”

Ty Lawson led the Nuggets with 25 points and Afflalo had 23. McGee finished with 15.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Pistons assign Vernon Macklin to D-League

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has assigned rookie forward Vernon Macklin to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League.

Macklin has appeared in 19 games this season with the Pistons averaging 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in 4.2 minutes per game. He scored a season-high five points vs. Dallas (1/10) and collected a season-high four rebounds at Oklahoma City (1/23).

Drafted 52nd overall in the 2011 NBA Draft from the University of Florida, he started 69 of 71 career games during his two seasons with the Gators. He played his first two years at Georgetown University prior to transferring to Florida in 2008.

Charlie Villanueva has first full-contact practice since January

Charlie Villanueva’s shots went up at practice Friday, and according to the hobbled Pistons forward, they were going in.

“You know it was going in,” an upbeat Villanueva said after practicing with full contact for the first time since being placed on the inactive list in January.

He called it significant progress. Coach Lawrence Frank called it very encouraging. Even so, neither side would call when Villanueva would see game action again.

“I’m just taking it step by step,” Villanueva said. “This is the first time I actually had a full day of practice, so we’ll see how my ankle responds. The way it’s feeling right now, it’s feeling OK, so we’ll see what happens.”

— Reported by Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press

Allen Iverson actively seeking NBA comeback

Allen Iverson

For 10 bucks, might play at your house

With hopes of getting one last shot in the NBA, former All-Star and league MVP Allen Iverson is contemplating playing minor league basketball, according to a person close to the situation.

Iverson is willing to play in the Caribbean, in South America or even in the D-League if it gives him a chance to return to the NBA, the source said.

“Allen only wants to play if there’s a possibility that it leads to the NBA,” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “That’s the only way he would go to one of these lower leagues. He wants to get back to the NBA and leave the game on his terms.”

Iverson’s interest in returning comes as he faces some financial trouble. On Monday, a judge in Georgia garnished funds from Iverson’s bank account to repay about $860,000 that he owes a jeweler, according to multiple media reports.

— Reported by Chris Broussard of ESPN the Magazine