Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have "been weighing the free-agent pursuit of Dennis Schroder" and have been "frequently linked" to New York Knicks free-agent center Mitchell Robinson, according to NBA writer Marc Stein.

The Pistons are expected to have about $27.4 million in cap space this summer, per Spotrac, giving them room to be players in free agency as they build around young star Cade Cunningham.

Schroder likely will depart the Houston Rockets in free agency this summer, with The Athletic's Kelly Iko reporting on Monday that the veteran point guard is "liked in Houston, but he's expected to have a new home for the 2022-23 season."

That largely comes down to the team's "real need to clear minutes for the roster’s developing young talent" at the guard position, including Jalen Green, Daishen Nix, Kevin Porter Jr. and Josh Christopher.

Schroder would make sense for Detroit for two major reasons:

• He'll likely come cheaper than the top point guard on the market, Jalen Brunson. 
• He's more of a combo guard than a pure point guard, which would make him a nice fit next to Cunningham's playmaking ability. 

The 28-year-old had a solid if unspectacular 2021-22 season between the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets, averaging 13.5 points and 4.6 assists across 64 games while shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from three.

Much of his value comes down to whether he's shooting well from beyond the arc. In his best season during the 2019-20 campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Schroder shot 38.5 percent from three to go along with 18.9 points and four assists per game, coming off the bench as the third guard in an excellent backcourt rotation that also included Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

But he went to the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade after that season, saw his points (15.4 PPG) and perimeter shooting (33.5 percent from three) take a dip alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis and famously turned down a four-year, $84 million extension with the team.

That turned out to be an all-time financial gaffe, as Schroder signed a one-year, $5.9 million deal with the Celtics last year and is extremely unlikely to sign a deal with a $21 million average annual salary like the one the Lakers offered.

But the Pistons could offer him a solid role on a team currently made up of a mix of intriguing young players (Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes) and solid veterans (Jerami Grant, Kelly Olynyk).

Center depth is a major need, however, making Robinson a logical fit. The Knicks big man is just 24 years old, putting him on a similar timeline to the team's younger players, and would address a need for rim protection after averaging two blocks per game in his four-year career.

He and Stewart would give Detroit a nice one-two punch at the position.

The Detroit Pistons' monthslong shopping of Jerami Grant is likely to reach its resolution this summer.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN reported the Pistons are "widely expected" to trade Grant this offseason ahead of the final year of his contract.

Grant is set to make $21 million next season to complete the three-year, $60 million pact he signed with the Pistons in 2020. A role player before arriving in Detroit via trade from Denver, Grant has led the Pistons in scoring each of the past two seasons. The 6'8", 210-pound forward has averaged 20.9 points and 4.4 rebounds during that span but has been limited to 101 games because of injuries.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks have been among the teams most regularly mentioned as suitors.

Blazers star Damian Lillard has an existing relationship with Grant dating back to their Team USA days, and Portland spent much of the 2021-22 season dismantling its roster to rebuild around Lillard. While adding Grant wouldn't turn the Blazers into a championship contender, he could be a solid third piece on a contender if Portland can find a second star.

Marc Stein reported on April 3 that the Pistons rebuffed an offer of Josh Hart and draft compensation for Grant before the 2022 trade deadline. Portland has the No. 7 pick in next week's NBA draft, though it feels unlikely the Blazers would move a mid-lottery pick for an expiring contract.

Stein also noted the Hawks' interest as they look to retool following a disappointing 2021-22 season. Perimeter defense was been one of the team's biggest issues last season, and Grant has proved himself capable of playing a three-and-D role.

Atlanta has the No. 16 pick in the first round next Thursday night.

The Detroit Pistons are orienting their future around Cade Cunningham, but that may not stop them from selecting another guard in the 2022 NBA draft.

The Athletic's David Aldridge spoke with an executive from the Eastern Conference who said Detroit "loves Ivey."

Aldridge quoted a college assistant whose team faced off against Ivey and Purdue, and the coach drew a parallel between the 6'4" guard and Russell Westbrook:

If people could lose what they’ve seen from Russell Westbrook, and how they feel about Westbrook, Ivey is very similar. He’s downhill, he’s tough to guard. Against us, he beat us from the free-throw line. He got downhill. He can create a lot of fouls just because of his athleticism. I think he’s got a lot of work to do as a point guard. But I think his upside is really good, and from what I hear, he works his tail off.

Despite finishing with the NBA's third-worst record (23-59), the Pistons fell two spots to the No. 5 pick in the lottery. That still leaves Detroit poised to land a player who can join Cunningham in shaping the franchise's future.

Ivey would fit nicely alongside Cunningham as well.

In his sophomore season with the Boilermakers, he averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He also shot 46.0 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc.

While he's bound to improve as a playmaker to some degree, Ivey doesn't profile as a guard who can be the lead facilitator for his team.

Detroit wouldn't have to worry about that as much since Cunningham is already occupying that role. The Pistons rookie dished out 5.6 assists per game, and his presence would allow Ivey to play to his biggest strengths.

Ivey's availability might be a clear hurdle for Detroit general manager Troy Weaver.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman reported May 31 the Oklahoma City Thunder could target Ivey at No. 2 even though they already have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

Wasserman also projected Ivey to go No. 4 to the Sacramento Kings, who figure to be a much better fit as they look to find a replacement for Tyrese Haliburton.

Weaver and the front office will obviously cast a wide net as they identify their preferred prospects in the first round. Among the realistic scenarios, having Ivey fall to them would probably be the best outcome for the Pistons, but it's one that may not be all that likely.

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly among the teams expected to pursue Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant in a trade this offseason.

Marc Stein reported the Pistons "have not firmly declared that they are 100 percent moving" Grant, though he's expected to generate significant interest over the summer.

The Hawks finished a disappointing 43-39 during the regular season before losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat. They were coming off a surprising Eastern Conference Finals appearance the year prior and went all-in on talent retention but took a major step back.

Adding Grant could bolster Atlanta's perimeter defense and provide a secondary scorer next to Trae Young, who is often burdened with shouldering too much of the offensive load.

What the Hawks would be willing to give up in a Grant trade may determine whether they're serious suitors. A package of Danillo Gallinari and the No. 16 pick in June's draft would work under the salary cap but would likely fall well short of the Pistons' expectations, especially given how they still value Grant.

The Hawks could also add 2021 first-round pick Jalen Johnson or center Onyeka Okungwu in talks, though Okungwu emerged as a valuable reserve last season. They might not be willing to attach first-round picks beyond 2022 in any trade for Grant, who is playing on an expiring contract and may seek an extension as part of trade talks.

The Portland Trail Blazers have long been considered the top contender for Grant. Blazers star Damian Lillard and Grant have a friendship dating back to their Team USA days, and Portland essentially gutted its roster this season in an effort to rebuild around Lillard this summer.

If it comes down to a bidding war, Portland likely has the young talent, picks and motivation to pull ahead of the Hawks in talks.

Purdue guard Jaden Ivey is reportedly drawing "mixed reviews" from the Detroit Pistons, who own the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.

James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reported Thursday the Pistons are running "hot and cold" on Ivey as they work to narrow down their list of targets ahead of the June 23 event.

Auburn's Jabari Smith, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Duke's Paolo Banchero are expected to come off the board in some combination over the first three picks.

Detroit is tasked with identifying its preferred options among the next tier of prospects, a process that's still ongoing.

Edwards noted the Pistons' front office has shown interest in Iowa forward Keegan Murray and Arizona wing Bennedict Mathurin, but the key question marks over the next few weeks are Ivey and Kentucky guard Shaedon Sharpe.

General manager Troy Weaver and his staff are still trying to "formulate an opinion" on Sharpe, who's scheduled to work out for Detroit before the draft, per Edwards.

Meanwhile, Ivey has been generating a lot of hype as the draft moves closer.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported Tuesday the Purdue standout is generating some interest from the Houston Rockets at No. 3, which could shake up the top five, while Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer noted the Indiana Pacers at No. 6 are his floor.

Ivey is coming off a sophomore season with the Boilermakers where he averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 threes across 36 appearances.

While his ability to create offense is among the best in the class and his on-ball defense has improved in recent years, his offensive efficiency is a concern.

The 2022 First Team All-Big Ten selection shot a modest 46 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three-point range in 2021-22. His assist-to-turnover ratio (3.1-2.6) was also lackluster.

Although that creates some boom-or-bust potential around his draft stock, he has definite All-Star upside if he makes progress in that aspect of the game.

It sounds like Ivey may be off the board by the time the Pistons are on the clock, but deciding whether to take him if he's still available will be an important moment for the front office.

The Detroit Pistons are looking to improve their center situation this summer, and it appears they have a backup plan if they can't land coveted prospect Chet Holmgren in the 2022 NBA draft.

The Pistons are expected to pursue New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson if they miss out on Holmgren, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. The Pistons hold the fifth overall pick in this year's draft.

In his freshman season at Gonzaga, Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 60.7 percent from the floor and 39.0 percent from deep. He was a consensus All-American and was named the WCC Rookie of the Year.

The 20-year-old is widely expected to be selected within the first three picks of the 2022 draft and could go as high as first overall to the Orlando Magic, which means the Pistons will almost certainly miss out on him.

The Athletic's Sam Vecenie and John Hollinger also reported this week that the Magic "are leaning toward" drafting Holmgren first overall, so Detroit shifting focus to Robinson makes a lot of sense.

The Pistons already expressed interest in the 2018 second-round pick at the 2022 trade deadline in February, but a deal was never reached because the Knicks wanted Isaiah Stewart in return and the franchise wasn't willing to part with him, Berman reported at the time.

Robinson, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent, has spent the first four seasons of his career in New York and impressed as the Knicks' starting center during the 2021-22 campaign. He averaged 8.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 76.1 percent from the floor.

The 24-year-old would also be a more athletic upgrade over Stewart, who started at center for the Pistons this season. Stewart averaged 8.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 51.0 percent from the floor.

That said, the Pistons could use both players interchangeably, which would make both their first and second units difficult to play against in the paint.

It's unclear what the Pistons plan to do with the No. 5 pick, but Holmgren, Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr. are expected to be off the board by the time they're on the clock. AJ Griffin, Keegan Murray and Jaden Ivey should be available. 

The NBA is renewing an old-school rivalry for its return to Europe next season. 

The league announced on Tuesday the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons will play at Accor Arena in Paris on Jan. 19. 

This will mark the NBA's 12th time hosting a game in Paris since 1991. The first regular-season game in the city took place in January 2020, when the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 116-103. 

The Bulls played two preseason games in Paris before the 1997-98 season. They competed in a six-team tournament, beating PSG Racing and Olympiacos to win the McDonald's Championship. 

This will mark the first regular-season game in France's capital for the Pistons. Their most recent international contest was a 122-111 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 12, 2019, in Mexico City. 

Chicago is coming off its most successful season since 2014-15. The Bulls went 46-36 and made the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, but the team lost to the Bucks in a five-game first-round series. 

This will be an important offseason that determines the future direction of the Bulls. Zach LaVine is going to be an unrestricted free agent and has made it clear he wants to test the market. 

LaVine has averaged at least 23.7 points per game in each of the past four seasons. The 27-year-old has made the All-Star team in each of the previous two years. 

The Pistons posted their third straight season with fewer than 30 wins (23-59). Despite this recent rough stretch for the franchise, there are positive signs on the horizon.

Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft, averaged 17.4 points per game in 64 starts. The 20-year-old played better as the season went on. He shot 45.7 percent from the field and had a 53.1 true shooting percentage after the All-Star break.     

You may not be surprised to hear whom Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham thinks should be honored as this season's best rookie in the NBA.

"I think I should be Rookie of the Year because of all the things I’ve been able to do for my team this year." he said to Andscape's Marc J. Spears. "I feel like I helped my team in a lot of different ways that may not have always turned out to be wins. If you watch my game, and watch the way that I play, you could appreciate all the things that I do on the floor."

Unlike most of the individual awards, Rookie of the Year typically doesn't take a team's record into account. There's only so much one player can do in his first season to improve what was generally a tough situation.

Cunningham is a prime example.

The 20-year-old averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 64 games. He shot 41.6 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Despite his contributions, the Pistons' winning percentage only went from .278 in 2020-21 to .280. They finished 14th in the Eastern Conference at 23-59.

In another season, Cunningham's production alone might have been enough to vault him to the top of the ROY field. However, there are two candidates who have performed as well—if not better—on teams that finished in the top half in the East.

Scottie Barnes averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds and was an integral piece for the Toronto Raptors as they earned the fifth seed. Evan Mobley, meanwhile, put up 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as the Cleveland Cavaliers won 44 games and qualified for the play-in tournament. 

Heading into the 2021 draft, Cunningham was widely viewed as the most obvious choice for the Pistons as they embarked on their rebuild. With the regular season in the books, Detroit has every reason to remain confident about his status as the franchise cornerstone.

But Cunningham's assertion that he's the Rookie of the Year may not be a view that's widely shared outside of the Motor City.

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is likely to be in consideration for NBA Rookie of the Year despite his team's struggles.

Pistons head coach Dwane Casey told Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports that he hopes Detroit's poor performance this season doesn't affect voters who are choosing between Cunningham, Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"He can't control we're in a rebuild, that we have so many second-year guys starting and playing big minutes," Casey said. "We don't have two All-Stars the way Toronto and Cleveland has. It's not his fault. Hopefully people don't judge him on that, because at some point we'll be in those positions and he's really gonna shine."

The Pistons are 23-58 entering Sunday's regular-season finale against the Philadelphia 76ers. It will be the third straight year that Detroit has failed to reach 25 wins, setting up a third consecutive trip into the draft lottery.

Cunningham has lived up to expectations after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft. In 64 games, he's averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He's especially upped his play in the home stretch of the season, averaging 22.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists in the month of March.

"He has 'it.' Some guys have that 'it' gene. They can get it done in crucial situations and he's done it his whole career," Casey said. "The moment is never too big for him. That's how he produces and isn't afraid of the moment. You feel comfortable with the ball in his hands."

Unfortunately for Cunningham, his counterparts Barnes and Mobley likely have a leg up in the Rookie of the Year race thanks to the success of their respective teams. The Raptors (48-33) are headed back to the playoffs, and the Cavaliers (43-38) are locked in a spot in the play-in tournament.

Barnes has impressed with his all-around game, while Mobley has shone as a defensive anchor. But both of them have the benefit of playing alongside established stars, while Cunningham has had to shoulder the load for Detroit. The Rookie of the Year award will likely be one of the toughest decisions voters have to make this season.

Sacramento Kings center Alex Len and Toronto Raptors forward Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk issued a joint statement Thursday regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Len and Mykhailiuk described the attack as a "great tragedy" and said they "categorically condemn the war":

"Ukraine is a peaceful, sovereign state inhabited by people who want to decide their own destiny," they said. "We pray for our families, friends, relatives and all the people who are in the territory of Ukraine."

Len and Mykhailiuk are both Ukrainian and moved to the United States to attend college before moving on to the NBA.

Prior to Thursday's game between the Kings and Denver Nuggets, players from both teams locked arms and held a moment of silence to show solidarity with Len:

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was executing a "special military operation" in Ukraine early Thursday morning.

"The invasion began hours before dawn with a series of missile attacks against locations near Kyiv, as well as the use of long-range artillery against the northeastern city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border," per CNN's Tim Lister and Tara John.

The Ukrainian government said at least 57 people have died, with another 169 injured so far in the attacks.