March 2012 Detroit Pistons Wiretap

Frank Sees Knight, Drummond As Cornerstones Of Pistons

Dec 29, 2012 11:06 AM

Lawrence Frank sees Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond as key to the future of the Detroit Pistons.

"Brandon is coming along bit by bit," Frank said before Friday's 109-99 victory over the Miami Heat at the Palace. "He had a really good stretch prior to Washington. The bench has really stepped up and because of the way it is playing, it's limited some of our starters' minutes. But he's definitely made progress, and this is a very, very hard game to play from this point guard position. Brandon's going to continue to get better."

Frank couldn't hide his optimism for the surging Drummond.

"Andre has really been terrific for us," Frank said before Drummond had 10 points and 10 rebounds Friday night. "He's -- I said it the other day -- he's exceeded (our expectations) so far. He's obviously got a huge, huge ceiling to grow. The thing that impresses me the most about him is that he's the most coachable guy we have on this team. He's been diligent with his routine and work ethic, and he has some athletic gifts we don't have on this team with his size and agility.

"With all that being said, he has a large, large growth and we are very encouraged at what we have seen from him so far."

Mike Brudenell/Detroit Free Press

Tags: Brandon Knight, Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Sources: Celtics, Pistons Extremely Interested In Cousins

Dec 29, 2012 2:32 AM

The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons are two teams that have made it clear they are highly interested in DeMarcus Cousins if and when he becomes available, according to front office sources.

Still, Cousins assuredly has plenty more teams interested in acquiring him from the Sacramento Kings.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: DeMarcus Cousins, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Drummond Fine With Limited Playing Time

Dec 27, 2012 11:27 AM

Andre Drummond expressed no dissatisfaction with the 18.8-minute average he has compiled so far this season.

"I feel the way they've brought me along has been fine," Drummond said. "They could've easily slid me into the rotation. They've given me minutes here and there and it's great they're doing that.

"I'm starting to learn more every time I'm out there and it makes me work that much harder."

Drummond is averaging 6.9 points on 57.1 percent shooting and ranks second on the team in rebounding (7.0) behind Greg Monroe (8.8).

"Coach (Lawrence Frank) knows best, how to get the best from all his players," Drummond said.

"He knew I wasn't ready to play 30 minutes a night, I had to work. He had me at 16 to 18 (minutes). He knows what he's doing. I trust his system."

Vincent Goodwill/Detroit News

Tags: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Pistons 'Haven't Even Discussed' Complete Rebuild

Dec 26, 2012 1:15 PM

The Detroit Pistons are slowly starting to play young players such as Andre Drummond a little more, but they aren't fully committed to doing a complete rebuild of the team at this moment.

"That would be an organizational move," Lawrence Frank said. "We haven't even discussed that. But that's an organization decision."

In Frank's mind, the key to a youth movement is being forthright from a public relations standpoint.

"If you were to get in a mode where all you're going to do is play your youth, you need to be very transparent about it," Frank said. "For us, we're playing the guys that we think give us the best chance, whether young, veteran, regardless. Like I said, we haven't even had a discussion about that (but) you'd be very transparent about it."

David Mayo/Michigan Live

Tags: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Drummond Adjusting To NBA With Help From Mother

Dec 23, 2012 11:57 AM

Andre Drummond's mother and sister relocated to Detroit after he was drafted by the Pistons.

Drummond is still just 19 years old.

"I still try to guide him," Drummond's mother, Christine Cameron, said at a recent Pistons charity event. "That's why I'm here. ... He's still young and he still needs a little guidance. I still try to put my two cents in.

"'I'm still your momma.' He has to listen to me."

"It was probably the greatest move I made," Drummond said. "To this day, I'm thankful that she's out here with me. A lot of guys don't have their family with them and they are alone sometimes so it's good to have."

Cameron is from St. Thomas in Jamaica, moving to the United States in 1989. 

"I grew up on the islands and I grew up a certain way," she said. "I would get my butt whipped. I don't do it the American way. I'm very firm and very strict with them so I have to discipline them. I keep them on a straight track. I don't let them run loose. I keep them home."

Cameron's primary responsibility is helping Drummond organize his life.

Vince Ellis/Detroit Free Press

Tags: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Pistons Recall Middleton, English From D-League

Dec 20, 2012 12:19 AM

The Detroit Pistons have recalled rookies Khris Middleton and Kim English from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Middleton averaged 11.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 26.3 minutes in three games (all starts). He scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds against the Maine Red Claws on 12/14 – both highs for his D-League stint. 

English averaged 18.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 36.7 minutes in three games (all starts). He scored 24 points and grabbed six rebounds against the Maine Red Claws on 12/14 – both highs for his stint in the D-League.  

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Kim English, Khris Middleton, Detroit Pistons, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, NBA, D-League, D-League Teams

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Pistons Have NBA's Biggest Attendance Decline Over Past 10 Years

Dec 18, 2012 11:41 AM

The Detroit Pistons' attendance has dropped by 22.3 percent over the past 10 season, ranking them first in the NBA.

The Wizards and Bucks are next on the list with declines of 19.1 percent and 19.0 percent.

The Pistons have not had a winning record since 2008 following a succession of reaching at least the Eastern Conference Finals for five years.

Brendan Savage/MLive

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Daye Receiving Opportunity To Prove He Belongs In Rotation

Dec 18, 2012 10:25 AM

Austin Daye spent most of the season practicing at power forward, but he has a chance to stick in the rotation at small forward due to the uneven performances of Corey Maggette.

On Monday, Daye played 18 minutes while Maggette did not play.

"It was good just to be out there," Daye said.  "I wasn't out of shape or anything, so that was good.  And I was able to knock down one shot out of my two."

"I'll give him a ton of credit in that he's been an unbelievable professional this year in terms of not being in the rotation, not getting an opportunity every day, but he's been the same guy," Lawrence Frank said.  "I've seen very good growth from him.  He's become a professional player.  He's always had the skills but it's the makeup of dealing with (things).

"A lot of guys are for the team when it's going for them.  It's when it's not going well for them, they're not even getting a chance, can you be for the team?  And that's what a professional player does."


David Mayo/MLive

Tags: Austin Daye, Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Billups Leaves Door Open For Return To Pistons

Dec 18, 2012 1:01 AM

While it is not likely that Chauncey Billups will sign with the Detroit Pistons when he becomes a free agent after season's end, he believes a return to the Pistons in some capacity in the future is possible.

"Maybe," Billups said on Monday. "It's possible. It's always definitely possible. You never know where life takes you."

Billups was NBA Finals MVP in 2004 when he led the Pistons to a championship.

Brendan Savage/MLive

Tags: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Drummond Stays Consistent With Pregame Routine

Dec 15, 2012 12:24 PM

Andre Drummond has made a habit of arriving several hours early to work on low-post moves with Detroit Pistons assistant Roy Rogers. Then he’ll study video on a laptop in front of his locker before joining the Pistons for pregame warmups.

“We have a consistent routine,” Drummond said. “Working on my post moves and watching different films of myself or the big (man) we’re playing that day, what I need to do to stop them and what I need to do to have a great game.”

The routine seems to be paying off, as Drummond leads all rookies in field goal percentage (58.6) and ranks sixth in the NBA in rebounds-per-minute.

“Andre’s been very, very good,” Lawrence Frank said. “He plays with a lot of energy and effort. When he does that, he’s a game-changer for us. He brings size and athleticism that we don’t have. In the minutes he’s played, his offensive rebounding and his rebounding in general has been outstanding. His ability to be a rim-protector is very, very good. The more he learns, the more he continues to dedicate to his craft, we think he has huge upside.”

David Borges/New Haven Register

Tags: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Monroe Comfortable At Both Center, Power Forward

David Mayo/MLive

Prince: Pistons Losing Defensive Focus, 'Giving Away Games'

David Mayo/Michigan Live

Pistons Assign Middleton, English To Fort Wayne

RealGM Staff Report

Brandon Knight Earning 'Workaholic' Reputation

Vince Ellis/Detroit Free-Press