Detroit Free Press

The NBA released the 76 players invited to the NBA scouting combine in Chicago, May 16-22. Among the invitees are a pair of early entrants that would interest local fans. Freshmen Max Christie, of Michigan State basketball, and Moussa Diabate, of Michigan basketball, both made the cut. Christie, a 6-foot-6 guard, started all 35 games

Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Bryce Simon (@MotorCityHoops) and Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) • Producer: Wes Davenport • Editor: Cary Junior II • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Email: brycesimon3309@gmail.com; osankofa@freepress.com On this episode: This week, the guys first take one more look at their personal NBA draft board. Then, the guys talk through the viability of a few possible trade scenarios for the

The NHL draft lottery is upon us and already I can hear the cynicism. Yes, it makes a sound, a kind of muffled, entitled growl. Hey, I’m not judging. You are. That’s your right. The Detroit Red Wings have gotten housed in the lottery the last half decade, especially in 2020, when they finished with

There’s no such thing as an unimportant offseason, but this one feels especially consequential for the Detroit Pistons. They finished the 2021-22 season winning 11 of their final 25 games. Cade Cunningham finished third in the Rookie of the Year race and looked the part of a franchise centerpiece. Several young players made significant strides

Longtime Detroit Pistons play-by-play commentator George Blaha and Pistons senior adviser of player development John Beilein are, in Beilein’s words, “two old-school Catholics.” When the Pistons are on the road during the season, they often attend Mass together on Sundays. In New York, they may go to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. In Charlotte, they attend St. Peter

The Detroit Pistons will have money to spend this offseason. They will have between $25 and roughly $30 million in salary cap space, depending on where their lottery pick falls and which team options on player contracts they pick up. They will be a major player in free agency, and have several avenues to create

Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Bryce Simon (@MotorCityHoops) and Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) • Producer: Wes Davenport • Editor: Cary Junior II • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Email: brycesimon3309@gmail.com; osankofa@freepress.com On this episode: This week, the fellas take a tour through the Detroit Pistons roster and pick out one trait each key player should improve this offseason. Then, the guys look ahead

Joe Dumars has a new gig. The Detroit Pistons Hall of Famer was appointed as the NBA’s executive vice president, head of basketball operations, the league announced on Monday. Dumars’ first day will be on May 9. MOCK DRAFT 2.0: If Pistons win lottery again, they’ll pounce on Chet Holmgren “Joe’s extensive track record of accomplishment as

The NBA draft lottery 2022, one of the most entertaining events on the NBA calendar, is less than three weeks away. The Detroit Pistons will learn May 17 where they’ll end up for the draft June 23. They own the third-best odds and are tied with the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic for a 14% chance

Kirkland Crawford | Detroit Free Press Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Bryce Simon (@MotorCityHoops) and Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) • Producer: Wes Davenport • Editor: Cary Junior II • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Email: brycesimon3309@gmail.com; osankofa@freepress.com On this episode: This week, the guys break down the Rookie of the Year results, where Cade Cunningham finished a distant third. Then, the fellas take one

The 2022 NBA draft is, by most accounts, a three-player draft. Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. and Duke’s Paolo Banchero could each be  in pole position to hear his name announced first. All three will be in the mix if the Detroit Pistons, tied with the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic for a 14%

One big man decided to stay, and the other big man needs more time to decide. The morning after Michigan basketball center Hunter Dickinson announced he will return to Ann Arbor for a junior season, freshman power forward Moussa Diabate made public his intention to test his 2022 NBA draft prospects while maintaining collegiate eligibility.

Cade Cunningham had a Rookie of the Year-worthy resume. He was only the 10th rookie in NBA history to average at least 17 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. And he did so with gusto. Cunningham firmly established himself as the face of the Detroit Pistons, embracing his role of a go-to scorer and

Detroit Pistons rookie and 2021 first overall pick Cade Cunningham finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year race, the NBA announced Saturday, in one of the closest races ever. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors forward, was voted Rookie of the Year with 48 first-place votes. Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley was a close second with 43

Killian Hayes improved for the Detroit Pistons during his sophomore season. His defense, already impressive as a rookie, was more consistent. He got significantly better at making shots at the rim. And he had a clean bill of health for most of the season, appearing in 66 games after a hip injury limited him to

Killian Hayes improved for the Detroit Pistons during his sophomore season. His defense, already impressive as a rookie, was more consistent. He got significantly better at making shots at the rim. And he had a clean bill of health for most of the season, appearing in 66 games after a hip injury limited him to

Students at SAY Detroit Play Center are using a program called Rhymes with Reason that allows them to learn vocabulary words by using lyrics from today’s Top 40 hits. Once the 40 participating students successfully learn the words, they can be awarded prizes from the Detroit Pistons, anything from swag, like backpacks, to game tickets. The students, ages

Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Bryce Simon (@MotorCityHoops) and Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) • Producer: Wes Davenport • Editor: Cary Junior II • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Guest: Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated • Email: brycesimon3309@gmail.com; osankofa@freepress.com On this episode: This week, the guys welcome Jeremy Woo, the NBA draft expert from Sports Illustrated. Jeremy shares his No. 1 prospect and which player he think would fit

Sixteen teams made the NBA playoffs. Only two teams got there without the draft. Oh, the Brooklyn Nets have a few players on their roster who were drafted by that franchise, but none who are consistent difference-makers. And the Chicago Bulls have drafted players, too, obviously — but, like Brooklyn, none rank among their top

The Detroit Pistons could be one of the few big players in a tight free agency market this summer, but the franchise first has a number of big decisions to make this offseason. Four upcoming verdicts stand out above the rest: trade, keep or extend Jerami Grant; who to select with a top-seven pick in the first