'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 42

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Chat.asp?CHAT_TOPICS_ID=359

Mark in Portland:
Feels like I'm the only Blazer fan who likes the Hedo signing. Jason Quick says Portland will focus on backup PF after Hedo gets signed. Who does Portland go after?
Jason Fleming:

Jason Fleming:
A name I came up with the other day is Juwan Howard - a veteran who can score, who would be okay with about 15 minutes or so a night. McDyess is another name, but he might want a slightly bigger role. I think people - myself included - will come around to the Hedo signing. It's just a lot of money, and it's something a lot of people can't picture working well. Unfortunately, you don't get to try it out before you commit the cash. Not going after Miller as well is a good idea.

[nasty daddy]

http://need4sheed.com/2009/07/doug-coll ... stons.html

Doug Collins says no to the Pistons
Doug Collins told ESPN.com late Wednesday night that he talked to Pistons president Joe Dumars and thanked him for the consideration, but would remain an analyst for TNT

That leaves Avery Johnson as the front runner. “I had a great talk with Joe (Dumars) and I appreciate being considered for the job, but I’ve decided to take my name out of the running,” said Collins late Wednesday night. “I am honored to have been given the opportunity. I have great affection for the Davidson family (owner Karen and late husband William), great affection for the whole organization and for the fans in Detroit. “At this time, however, I feel it’s best that I not pursue the job.” Via The Detroit News

UPDATE: Avery the new coach?

Video in the link above^.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.971theticket.com/pages/3824327.php

Collins won't coach Pistons
Collins told ESPN.com on Wednesday night that he called Joe Dumars to thank the Pistons president for considering him and inform him of his preference to stay in television. That would appear to leave an unobstructed path to the job for ex-Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, who just completed his first season in TV as an analyst for ESPN.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.971theticket.com/pages/3824327.php

Columnist: "Pistons destined to be .500 for many years"
Ben said his priority is winning. Look, it’s really having someone show him the money. There’s nothing wrong with that. I suspect most, if not all, of us would do the same. I know pro athletes generally always do that.

Plus, Ben was out of options. If he didn’t get a deal from the Pistons, he probably didn’t have one and would have had to sign a short term deal and probably go back in free agency again next summer. How many years can you challenge fate and win? Ben won. He got paid. A lot. Good for him. He’s done being a winner on the court. The Pistons are now locked in with long term deals for multiple players without having one star. It doesn’t work in the NBA. The Pistons are destined to fight to be around .500 for many years.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.971theticket.com/pages/3824327.php

Avery in driver's seat
With word Wednesday night that Doug Collins has removed his name from consideration for the Pistons' head coaching job, Avery Johnson has emerged as the clear favorite to succeed Michael Curry in Detroit.

As he did with the Sixers' job earlier this offseason, Collins flirted with the idea of returning to the sideline but ultimately couldn't resist staying in the relatively blissful world of basketball broadcasting. All in all, that's good for basketball fans because I think Collins is as good as it gets when it comes to NBA color commentators. A little over the top sometimes, but outstanding nonetheless.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.971theticket.com/pages/3824327.php

Rodney Stuckey discusses recent changes with Pistons
Rodney Stuckey talked to Terry Foster about Ben Gordon, the firing of Michael Curry and Avery johnson.

Click HERE for the whole interview with Terry Foster

Interview with Rodney Stuckey in the link above^.

[nasty daddy]

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/m ... 3/15850212

Avery in driver's seat
With word Wednesday night that Doug Collins has removed his name from consideration for the Pistons' head coaching job, Avery Johnson has emerged as the clear favorite to succeed Michael Curry in Detroit.

As he did with the Sixers' job earlier this offseason, Collins flirted with the idea of returning to the sideline but ultimately couldn't resist staying in the relatively blissful world of basketball broadcasting. All in all, that's good for basketball fans because I think Collins is as good as it gets when it comes to NBA color commentators. A little over the top sometimes, but outstanding nonetheless.

So after Collins informed Pistons president Joe Dumars that he was no longer pursuing the job, a source familiar with the situation confirmed, it is now clearly Johnson's job to lose. The former Mavericks coach makes sense on so many levels. Dumars has stated that he wants a more experienced coach. Johnson was a winner in Dallas, and by now he's had time to reflect on some of the things he did wrong -- primarily being too rigid. The third box the Pistons can check off is that Johnson is still getting paid by the Mavericks next season, so he comes at a discount. For similar reasons, I believe Sam Mitchell will get the job in Minnesota. Dollars and cents and past success equals a new opportunity for both. Stay here for updates.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.motownstringmusic.com/2009/7 ... -coach-the

Doug Collins Will Not Coach the Pistons
I was shocked when I even heard Doug Collins' name in the first place. I know he's one of the few big names available, but my first thought was, "been there, done that." I know under Joe Dumars it could be different, but I didn't really see how years as a TNT analyst after his last coaching gig can really make Doug Collins that much better of an option now. Don't get me wrong, the Pistons had a number of good-to-great seasons with Collins as their coach, but I see his days as a quality coach being behind him. Well, it doesn't matter now because Collins has officially pulled himself out of the running for the job this evening after the Pistons reportedly agreed to deals with Gordon and Villanueva.

From ESPN.com: Television analyst Doug Collins, one of two heavy favorites to fill the Detroit Pistons' sudden coaching vacancy, has withdrawn from consideration for the job. Collins told ESPN.com on Wednesday night that he called Joe Dumars to thank the Pistons president for considering him and to inform him of his preference to stay in television. That would appear to leave an unobstructed path to the job for ex-Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, who just completed his first season in TV as an analyst for ESPN.

As you see, it appears that Avery Johnson is the favorite to replace Michael Curry as head coach of the Pistons. While Joe Dumars has not addressed the speculation of Johnson becoming the next Pistons head coach, Dumars plans on having a head coach named by Tuesday when the Pistons head to Vegas for the Summer League.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.motownstringmusic.com/2009/7 ... va-already

Charlie Villanueva Already Acclimated to Detroit Basketball
Charlie Villanueva is already getting acclimated to the Detroit basketball scene just 24 hours after agreeing to a deal with the Pistons. Villanueva averaged just over 16 points per game and nearly 7 rebounds per game in 26 minutes per game last season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Perhaps with more minutes, this could be a 20-10 guy? Either way, it gives the Pistons another option on offense and a younger guy who still has plenty of room to grow offensively, and, yes, even defensively.

If you are on Twitter follow the Detroit Pistons' first real Twitter user, or twitterer, CV31. I'm looking forward to his half time tweets.

[nasty daddy]

http://wdfn.com/cc-common/podcast/singl ... ngShow.xml

More on the Curry firing and what Joe D. should do

Audio in the link above^.

[nasty daddy]

http://wdfn.com/cc-common/podcast/singl ... ngShow.xml

Shep mentions the Pistons moves here, but mostly talking about the Wings here and the players they lost yesterday.

Audio in the link above^.

[nasty daddy]

http://wdfn.com/cc-common/podcast/singl ... ngShow.xml

Stuckey talks about Gordon and Villanueva along with Michael Curry

Audio in the link above^.

[nasty daddy]

http://wdfn.com/pages/DETROITPISTONS.html

Draft picks to head to summer league
The Detroit Pistons are putting the final touches on their summer league roster.
In addition to their three draft picks from last week, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, and Jonas Jerebko, the summer league team also will include the last year's second-round picks (Walter Sharpe, Trent Plaisted and Deron Washington) as well as Will Bynum. Others expected to play include: center-forward Dwyane Jones (played in six games for Charlotte last season), shooting guard Clay Tucker (played for ACB Cajasol in Spain last season), point guard Ibrahim Jaaber (two-time Ivy league player of the Year at Penn), and forward Matt Freije (All-American at Vanderbilt).

Body by Joe
Detroit's Austin Daye is among a handful of first-round picks from last week's draft who are training at Joe Abunassar's Impact Sports Academy in Las Vegas. Abunassar, a Michigan native, has worked with current Pistons such as Tayshaun Prince and former Pistons including Chauncey Billups as well as some of the NBA's top players, such as Boston's Kevin Garnett and Los Angeles Clippers guard Baron Davis.

Small world
Seven years ago, Dumars and then-vice president of basketball operations John Hammond (now the GM of the Milwaukee Bucks) were at the World Championships in Sweden. A 14-year-old kid pulled up a seat next to Dumars, and talked his ear off for the rest of the tournament. That kid was Jonas Jerebko. "I wasn't really watching the game," said Jerebko.

[nasty daddy]

http://wdfn.com/pages/DETROITPISTONS.html

Dumars fires Michael Curry
Michael Curry has been fired as Coach of the Pistons. Joe Dumars hopes to have a replacement in place by the beginning of summer league.

[nasty daddy]

http://wdfn.com/pages/DETROITPISTONS.html

Summer League roster set
PISTONS ANNOUNCE SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER AND SCHEDULE
The Detroit Pistons announced today their roster for the NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports in Las Vegas, NV. The Pistons will play five games versus Sacramento, Toronto, Golden State, New York and Cleveland from July 10 through July 19. All games will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center or Cox Pavilion located on the campus of UNLV.

NO PLAYER POS HT WT COLLEGE/COUNTRY BIRTHDATE NBA EXP.
14 Michael Bramos G 6-5 221 Miami (Ohio) 5/27/87 R
12 Will Bynum G 6-0 185 Georgia Tech 1/4/83 2
5 Austin Daye F 6-11 190 Gonzaga 6/5/88 R
6 Ibrahim Jaaber G 6-2 175 Pennsylvania 2/3/84 R
33 Jonas Jerebko F 6-10 231 Sweden 3/2/87 R
34 Dwayne Jones C 6-11 250 St. Joseph’s (PA) 6/9/83 4
7 Andre Owens G 6-4 200 Indiana 10/31/80 2
44 Trent Plaisted F 6-11 245 BYU 10/20/86 R
42 Walter Sharpe F 6-9 245 Alabama-Birmingham 7/16/86 1
35 DaJuan Summers F 6-8 240 Georgetown 1/24/88 R
20 Clay Tucker G 6-5 210 Wisconsin-Milwaukee 6/14/80 R
13 Deron Washington G/F 6-7 210 Virginia Tech 12/12/85 R

[nasty daddy]

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/repo ... th-lakers/

Ron Artest Joining Kobe, Lakers
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That's the mindset that Ron Artest has apparently taken following today's news that he's agreed to join Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. Artest was instrumental in helping the Rockets take the eventual champion Lakers to seven games during the Western Conference semifinals. Instead of serving as Kobe's antagonist, he'll become Kobe's sidekick.

According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Artest met with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss and spoke with Phil Jackson on Thursday before instructing his agent to get a deal done. Details of the agreement -- both the length and the amount -- are still unknown, but from the sounds of it, Artest isn't about to quibble over the details. "I don't really care about the money," Artest told Berger. "I'll play there for nothing. ... L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me."

The agreement was confirmed via Twitter by both the Los Angeles Daily News and Sacramento's 1140 AM (KHTK). Stay tuned as more details emerge.
Update: Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times confirms a deal is close.
Update: ESPN's Chris Broussard reports Artest will sign a three-year, $18 million deal. Three years is something of a magic number, as that's the minimum amount of time until the Lakers attain Bird Rights on Artest, which would allow them to go over the salary cap to re-sign him.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.pistonpowered.com/2009/07/mc ... structure/

McCosky on the salary structure
Chris McCosky of the Detroit News provides some more insight on Ben Gordon’s and Charlie Villanueva’s contracts: I have seen Ben Gordon’’s contract offer from the Pistons reported as high as $60 million. Unless there are some incentive clauses I don”t know about, the total value of the deal should fall just short of $55 million. He will start at $9 million next season. Charlie Villanueva’’s deal will start at $6 million and is for $35 million over five years, not $40 million.The largest raise Ben Gordon can receive is eight percent of his first-year salary ($720,000 per year), according to Larry Coon. So, if McCosky’s numbers are correct, Gordon’s contract can be for a maximum of $52.2 million. McCosky’s figures make sense with Villanueva receiving $500,00 annual raises.

So here’s what the Pistons’ salary structure would look like:
Player 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14
Richard Hamilton $11,625,000 $12,650,000 $12,650,000 $12,650,000 $0
Tayshaun Prince $10,324,380 $11,148,760 $0 $0 $0
Ben Gordon $9,000,000 $9,720,000 $10,440,000 $11,160,000 $11,880,000
Charlie Villanueva $6,000,000 $6,500,000 $7,000,000 $7,500,000 $8,000,000
Jason Maxiell $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $0
Kwame Brown $4,100,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
Rodney Stuckey $1,805,040 $2,767,126 $3,868,442 $0 $0
Fabricio Oberto $1,800,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
Austin Daye $1,398,200 $1,503,100 $1,875,500 $2,875,142 $4,019,448
Arron Afflalo $1,086,240 $1,959,577 $2,906,053 $0 $0
Will Bynum $825,497 $0 $0 $0 $0
Walter Sharpe $736,420 $0 $0 $0 $0
TOTALS: $53,700,777 $51,248,563 $43,739,995 $39,185,142 $23,899,448
Team Option, Qualify Offer, Player Option

That’s $2.5 million more in cap room right now than I previously projected. Odds are Antonio McDyess will get larger offers, but Detroit has enough cap room to make a reasonable offer.The salary cap was set at $58.68 million last year, according to Larry Coon. If the cap returns to the 2008-09 number for the 2010-11 season, the Pistons would have more than $7 million in cap room. If they trade Richard Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince, that jumps to the $18-20 million range (minus any contracts they acquire). That’s enough to land a top-level free agent.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.pistonpowered.com/2009/07/sa ... -signings/

Salary-cap ramifications of Gordon and Villanueva signings
I don’t know how Ben Gordon’s and Charlie Villanueva’s contracts are structured, so this is just an estimate. I project each of them to receive $500,000 raises each year. And since Villanueva’s total salary has been reported as $35 and $40 million, I used $37.5 million.

So, here’s how the Pistons’ salaries break down:
Player 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14
Richard Hamilton $11,625,000 $12,650,000 $12,650,000 $12,650,000 $0
Tayshaun Prince $10,324,380 $11,148,760 $0 $0 $0
Ben Gordon $10,000,000 $10,500,000 $11,000,000 $11,500,000 $12,000,000
Charlie Villanueva $6,500,000 $7,000,000 $7,500,000 $8,000,000 $8,500,000
Jason Maxiell $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $0
Kwame Brown $4,100,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
Rodney Stuckey $1,805,040 $2,767,126 $3,868,442 $0 $0
Fabricio Oberto $1,800,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
Austin Daye $1,398,200 $1,503,100 $1,875,500 $2,875,142 $4,019,448
Arron Afflalo $1,086,240 $1,959,577 $2,906,053 $0 $0
Will Bynum $825,497 $0 $0 $0 $0
Walter Sharpe $736,420 $0 $0 $0 $0
TOTALS: $55,200,777 $52,528,563 $44,799,995 $40,025,142 $24,519,448
Team Option, Qualify Offer, Player Option

The salary cap was set at $58.68 million last year, according to Larry Coon. It’s expected to go down slightly this year, so the Pistons are basically done. Unless Gordon’s and Villanueva’s contracts are very back-loaded, Detroit just has room to sign a very low-paid player – if that. Let’s say the cap returns to the 2008-09 number for the 2010-11 season. The Pistons would have more than $6 million in cap room. If they trade Richard Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince, that jumps to the $17-19 million range (minus any contracts they acquire). That’s enough to land a top-level free agent.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/pistons/chat_mailbox ... ilbag.html

Emanuel (Macomb Twp., Mich.): Now that Gordon and Villanueva have agreed to contracts, do you think the Pistons can still re-sign McDyess?

Langlois: Great question, Emanuel, and I’m sure it’s one they’re asking up in Joe Dumars’ office this morning – and asking it of McDyess’ agent, Andy Miller. We’ll find out within the next week or so. Assuming the widely reported figures on the contracts of Gordon and Villanueva are accurate, then the combined first-year incomes for those two will be between $15 million and $16 million. That will probably leave Joe D with between $3 million and $5 million, depending on where the salary cap figure is set next week.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/pistons/chat_mailbox ... ilbag.html

Seth (Wapakoneta, Ohio): I’m glad we finally made a move to get younger, but signing Ben and Charlie has taken up much of the remaining cap space, right? What will happen to the much-needed starter at the center spot?

Langlois: The Pistons have enough money left over to get themselves another solid player – but probably not what you’d consider a legit starting center. What they can find is someone comparable to Kwame Brown – different skill set, perhaps, but in that range of effectiveness – to add another big body to the frontcourt. If they could get McDyess back for another year at that price, that would be ideal. They might have to settle for a little less of a sure thing. I’ve heard Brandon Bass’ name mentioned by fans, but I think he might be out of reach now. Never know what this market will bear, however. Some young free agents that could get a look include Channing Frye and Ike Diogu. There are always serviceable big men available late in free agency.