AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Ed Stefanski can maintain a sense of humor about the challenges facing the Detroit Pistons."I wouldn't be here if things were rosy, is the way I look at it," said Stefanski, a senior executive with the Pistons. "And I tell that in our meetings when people want to say, oh, you know, this and that. I said, 'You guys wouldn't be here if things were good.'"Stefanski arrived as part of a front office overhaul last offseason, and this week was his first trade deadline with Detroit. The Pistons acquired guard Svi Mykhailiuk from the Lakers and center Thon Maker from the Bucks, giving up Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson in the process. The moves netted Detroit a couple young players but did little to change the overall outlook for the franchise.The Pistons have a lot of money tied up in Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, and although Griffin has remained healthy and played like a star this season, Detroit was 24-29 heading into Friday night's matchup... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Last season, the Detroit Pistons acquired Blake Griffin in a blockbuster deal shortly before the trade deadline.So far, their moves this time around have been a lot more mild.The Pistons traded Reggie Bullock to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday for rookie guard Svi Mykhailiuk and a future second-round draft pick. Detroit also agreed to send forward Stanley Johnson to Milwaukee for center Thon Maker, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that deal had not been announced publicly.The Pistons have been mediocre for a while, stuck between contending and rebuilding. For that reason, almost anything seemed possible as Thursday's trade deadline approached. Last year, Griffin came to Detroit in the middle of the season, but that wasn't enough to put the Pistons in the playoffs, and the franchise eventually parted with Stan Van Gundy, its coach and team president.This season hasn't been much different under new coach... [More]

New Orleans has an All-Star for the sixth straight year.That is, unless he gets traded first.Pelicans standout Anthony Davis — only three days removed from having his trade request made known publicly — was one of the 14 players announced Thursday as reserves for the All-Star Game in Charlotte. Davis wants to be swapped out of New Orleans by the Feb. 7 trade deadline, so it remains unclear if his uniform for the All-Star contest on Feb. 17 will bear a Pelicans logo or not.It's the sixth consecutive All-Star nod for Davis. The Pelicans aren't sure if he'll play for them again, though there's also no guarantee that he gets traded by next week either."That's something that will obviously have to be discussed about what's best for him and what's best for our team," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.The other Western Conference reserves were Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, Denver's Nikola Jokic, Portland's Damian Lillard, Golden State's Klay Thompson, San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge and Minnesota's... [More]

New Orleans has an All-Star for the sixth straight year.That is, unless he gets traded first.Pelicans standout Anthony Davis — only three days removed from having his trade request made known publicly — was one of the 14 players announced Thursday as reserves for the All-Star Game in Charlotte. Davis wants to be swapped out of New Orleans by the Feb. 7 trade deadline, so it remains unclear if his uniform for the All-Star contest on Feb. 17 will bear a Pelicans logo or not.It's the sixth consecutive All-Star nod for Davis. The Pelicans aren't sure if he'll play for them again, though there's also no guarantee that he gets traded by next week either."That's something that will obviously have to be discussed about what's best for him and what's best for our team," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.The other Western Conference reserves were Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, Denver's Nikola Jokic, Portland's Damian Lillard, Golden State's Klay Thompson, San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge and Minnesota's... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — A matchup of the NBA's top two rebounders is on with Detroit's Andre Drummond returning against DeAndre Jordan and the Dallas Mavericks after the Pistons big man missed three games while in the concussion protocol.Drummond took a shot to the nose in a win over Miami a week ago and missed games against Sacramento, Washington and New Orleans. The visit to the Mavericks on Friday night wraps up a three-game trip.The 6-foot-11 Drummond leads the league at 14.9 rebounds per game. Jordan is second at 14.0 rebounds per game in his first season in Dallas after signing as a free agent. Drummond is third in the NBA with 36 double-doubles, and the 6-11 Jordan is tied for 11th with 29.Drummond left in the first quarter last Friday against the Heat after getting hit in the face by the arm of Miami's James Johnson. It did not appear to be intentional blow.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — Andre Drummond left Detroit's game against Miami on Friday night with a nasal injury after he was hit in the face by an opponent's arm.James Johnson of the Heat caught Drummond in the face in the first half, and the Detroit big man left after playing only 7:14. Drummond is not expected to return.Ish Smith, a backup point guard for Detroit, also left because of adductor tightness. Smith was in his third game back after missing 19 because of a right adductor tear.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

So much changed after Kawhi Leonard crashed to the Oracle Arena floor on May 14, 2017.The San Antonio Spurs had a 23-point lead on the Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals when Leonard departed with 26 points, poised to take away home-court advantage in the series between teams who won more than 60 games.Leonard injured his ankle when he landed on Zaza Pachulia's foot after taking a jump shot, and things were never the same again for the Spurs or Leonard. The Spurs couldn't hold on to win that game or any other in the series without their All-Star forward, whose ankle injury would be followed by a lingering thigh injury that would limit him to just nine games the following season and strain relations between the team and player. Leonard was ultimately granted his desire to leave San Antonio when he was traded to Toronto in the offseason.If Leonard doesn't go down, maybe the Spurs win that game, maybe the series and maybe another championship. Maybe Leonard wouldn't have wanted... [More]

So much changed after Kawhi Leonard crashed to the Oracle Arena floor on May 14, 2017.The San Antonio Spurs had a 23-point lead on the Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals when Leonard departed with 26 points, poised to take away home-court advantage in the series between teams who won more than 60 games.Leonard injured his ankle when he landed on Zaza Pachulia's foot after taking a jump shot, and things were never the same again for the Spurs or Leonard. The Spurs couldn't hold on to win that game or any other in the series without their All-Star forward, whose ankle injury would be followed by a lingering thigh injury that would limit him to just nine games the following season and strain relations between the team and player. Leonard was ultimately granted his desire to leave San Antonio when he was traded to Toronto in the offseason.If Leonard doesn't go down, maybe the Spurs win that game, maybe the series and maybe another championship. Maybe Leonard wouldn't have wanted... [More]

Blake Griffin had this season's highest-scoring game for all of about 24 hours before Stephen Curry bettered it — in just three quarters.Then, in Golden State's next game, after Curry poured in 51 points in a rout of Washington, Kevin Durant scored 25 in the fourth quarter, the best total of his career, and finished with 41 in a victory at New York.With the Warriors teammates' big nights and Griffin's 50-point outburst for Detroit coming in just a four-night span, it continued a torrid start for scorers that Curry said made it seem like "everybody's clicking at the same time."But count Curry among those who aren't sure the offensive onslaughts being seen now will still be seen in a few months."Those are just great players just making plays, having great nights. That's not any different than any other year," he said after Durant's big night."We're six games in. We'll see how it goes."Damian Lillard has already had a pair of 40-point nights and Kemba Walker is one point shy of doing the same.... [More]

Blake Griffin had this season's highest-scoring game for all of about 24 hours before Stephen Curry bettered it — in just three quarters.Then, in Golden State's next game, after Curry poured in 51 points in a rout of Washington, Kevin Durant scored 25 in the fourth quarter, the best total of his career, and finished with 41 in a victory at New York.With the Warriors teammates' big nights and Griffin's 50-point outburst for Detroit coming in just a four-night span, it continued a torrid start for scorers that Curry said made it seem like "everybody's clicking at the same time."But count Curry among those who aren't sure the offensive onslaughts being seen now will still be seen in a few months."Those are just great players just making plays, having great nights. That's not any different than any other year," he said after Durant's big night."We're six games in. We'll see how it goes."Damian Lillard has already had a pair of 40-point nights and Kemba Walker is one point shy of doing the same.... [More]

Blake Griffin had this season's highest-scoring game for all of about 24 hours before Stephen Curry bettered it — in just three quarters.Then in Golden State's next game after Curry poured in 51 points in a rout of Washington, Kevin Durant scored 25 in the fourth quarter, the best total of his career, and finished with 41 in a victory at New York.With the Warriors teammates' big nights and Griffin's 50-point outburst for Detroit coming in just a four-night span, it continued a torrid start for scorers that Curry said made it seem like "everybody's clicking at the same time."But count Curry among those who isn't sure the offensive onslaughts being seen now are will still be seen in a few months."Those are just great players just making plays, having great nights. That's not any different than any other year," he said after Durant's big night."We're six games in. We'll see how it goes."Damian Lillard has already had a pair of 40-point nights and Kemba Walker is one point shy of doing the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Once the Detroit Pistons traded for Blake Griffin last season, their roster was largely set for the foreseeable future.When that deal wasn't enough to push the Pistons into the playoffs, they made the easiest changes they could in the offseason, hiring a new coach and overhauling the front office.Stan Van Gundy is out and Dwane Casey is in on the Detroit bench, but the team Casey will coach isn't much different than the group that went 39-43 last season. The Pistons will hope for a nice boost from their new coach and some better health for key players. With Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, Detroit has an intriguing nucleus, but those three were rarely on the court together in 2017-18."Our expectations should be high," Griffin said. "In the East, with our roster, I don't see why getting home court in the playoffs is not a reasonable expectation."The Pistons appeared headed toward a season like that before Jackson went down with an ankle injury in late December.... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons have a new coach — and the usual amount of optimism that accompanies such a big change.What they really could use this season is a healthy point guard.The Pistons are hopeful Reggie Jackson will be ready to play by the start of the season, although he's still working his way back into shape following an ankle injury. Jackson went down in late December, derailing what had been a promising start for Detroit in 2017-18. Ed Stefanski, a new senior executive for the Pistons, sounds optimistic about Jackson's health, but the point guard's recovery isn't complete yet."Reggie is fully healed. We did an MRI I think a couple weeks ago, and it's perfect," Stefanski said at media day Monday. "It's just now basketball shape, and he hasn't played all summer long."Detroit got off to a 19-14 start last season, but after Jackson's injury the team floundered, and Stan Van Gundy's tenure eventually came to an end. The Pistons now have a new coach in Dwane Casey and a new... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Dwane Casey looks at the roster of the Detroit Pistons and sees a core of players capable of a lot more than the team accomplished last season."Our time is now," Casey said.The Pistons introduced Casey as their new coach Wednesday, over a week after hiring him to replace Stan Van Gundy. Casey inherits a team built around Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, but the roster has little flexibility and the team gave up its first-round draft pick this year to acquire Griffin.In other words, Detroit's performance in 2018-19 may depend largely on what Casey can get out of a group that fell short under Van Gundy."I'm telling the guys now: We're not developing, we're not two or three years away," Casey said. "We want to win right now."Casey took the Detroit job after being fired by the Toronto Raptors. He's a finalist for NBA coach of the year after leading the Raptors to a team-record 59 wins this past season, but he lost his job after Toronto was swept in the playoffs... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Dwane Casey lost his job in Toronto because the Raptors wanted to advance further in the playoffs.In Detroit, it would be an accomplishment if Casey can simply get the Pistons into the playoffs.The Pistons hired the NBA coach of the year finalist Monday, hoping he can help the three-time NBA championship franchise regularly reach the postseason and eventually compete again for titles."Dwane is one of the most successful and highly respected coaches in our league," Pistons owner Tom Gores said. "He's a great communicator and a leader who will connect with our players and accelerate their growth. Having spent many hours with Dwane over the last few weeks, I'm confident he is the right person to get us to the next level."A month after being fired by the Raptors , Casey agreed to a five-year deal to become head coach of the Pistons, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Dwane Casey did not stay out of the NBA for long.A month after being fired by the Toronto Raptors, Casey agreed to a five-year deal to become head coach of the Detroit Pistons, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the move, which was first reported by ESPN.Casey led Toronto to a franchise-record 59 wins this year and helped them earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time. The NBA coach of the year finalist was fired shortly after Toronto was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers with one year remaining on a three-year, $18 million dollar extension. He was 320-238 in seven seasons and is Toronto's winningest coach.Detroit has been looking for a coach for more than month since firing Stan Van Gundy, who was also its president of basketball operations. Michigan coach John Beilein was a finalist for the job before withdrawing his name from consideration... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — When the Detroit Pistons hired Stan Van Gundy in 2014, owner Tom Gores called it the most important decision his organization had made.Van Gundy didn't make it to the end of his five-year contract, and now the Pistons need a plan for a future without him. Multiple plans, perhaps.Van Gundy's ouster leaves Detroit with no coach and a leadership void in the front office. That's what happens when a team entrusts one person with so much authority, then decides to move in a different direction. If healthy, the Pistons may have the talent to reach the playoffs next season, but the franchise's long-term strategy is the more pressing question.The team announced Monday that Van Gundy wouldn't be back as coach or president of basketball operations. There was no news conference — just a release in which Detroit said it would begin the search for a new head of basketball operations and a new coach. Gores spoke highly of Van Gundy while saying the team needed a change to reach the next... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — After four seasons of mostly mediocre results, the Detroit Pistons are moving on without Stan Van Gundy.He won't return as president of basketball operations and he isn't staying on as Detroit's coach, either.Van Gundy held both those roles for four years, and at times the Pistons seemed to be making progress. But they made the playoffs only once during his tenure, in 2016, and the team announced his departure Monday. Owner Tom Gores said it was a difficult decision."I am grateful to Stan for everything he's done for the Pistons and for the city of Detroit," Gores said. "He rebuilt the culture of our basketball team, re-instilled a winning attitude and work ethic, and took us to the playoffs two years ago. He went all-in from Day One to positively impact this franchise and this community."But over the past two seasons our team has not progressed, and we decided that a change is necessary to regain our momentum," Gores said.The Pistons went 39-43 this season, missing the playoffs... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — After four seasons of mostly mediocre results, the Detroit Pistons are moving on without Stan Van Gundy.He won't return as president of basketball operations and he isn't staying on as Detroit's coach, either.Van Gundy held both those roles for four years, and at times the Pistons seemed to be making progress. But they made the playoffs only once during his tenure, in 2016, and the team announced his departure Monday. Owner Tom Gores said it was a difficult decision."I am grateful to Stan for everything he's done for the Pistons and for the city of Detroit," Gores said. "He rebuilt the culture of our basketball team, re-instilled a winning attitude and work ethic, and took us to the playoffs two years ago. He went all-in from Day One to positively impact this franchise and this community."But over the past two seasons our team has not progressed, and we decided that a change is necessary to regain our momentum," Gores said.The Pistons went 39-43 this season, missing the playoffs... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — After four seasons of mostly mediocre results, the Detroit Pistons are moving on without Stan Van Gundy.He won't return as president of basketball operations and he isn't staying on as Detroit's coach, either.Van Gundy held both those roles for four years, and at times the Pistons seemed to be making progress. But they made the playoffs only once during his tenure, in 2016, and the team announced his departure Monday. Owner Tom Gores said it was a difficult decision."I am grateful to Stan for everything he's done for the Pistons and for the city of Detroit," Gores said. "He rebuilt the culture of our basketball team, re-instilled a winning attitude and work ethic, and took us to the playoffs two years ago. He went all-in from Day One to positively impact this franchise and this community."But over the past two seasons our team has not progressed, and we decided that a change is necessary to regain our momentum," Gores said.The Pistons went 39-43 this season, missing the playoffs... [More]