Pistons Offseason News: Rodney Stuckey To Remain With Pistons

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Pistons Officially Announce Rodney Stuckey Re-Signing

Earlier today the Pistons had reportedly re-signed their six-foot-five combo guard Rodney Stuckey to a three-year, $25 million deal. Well, the Pistons have officially announced the deal and Joe Dumars had this to say from the press release: 

"We are pleased to re-sign Rodney Stuckey," said Joe Dumars, Pistons President of Basketball Operations. "Rodney led our team in scoring and assists last season and he's part of the young core group of players that we are building around. We look forward to watching his continued growth within our organization."

Stuckey averaged 15.5 points and 5.2 assists per game last year, but struggled to show he was the point guard of the future. With Brandon Knight garnering a lot of excitement after his first preseason game last night, Stuckey may find himself playing more in the two-guard role. If he fails to develop, then this contract will allow Dumars to trade Stuckey rather than being stuck with another gaudy contract.

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Rodney Stuckey, Pistons Struggling To Agree To Terms On Multi-Year Deal, According To Report

The Detroit Pistons have reportedly made resolving Rodney Stuckey's contract situation one of their top priorities, but there appears to be little progress, according to ESPN. Their report states that the team and Stuckey are struggling to come to an agreement on a long-term contract. The deal reportedly pays Stuckey $40 million to $45 million over a five-year period, and Stuckey's representatives are seeking a bigger deal. 

According to the report, Stuckey's representatives have been talking with other teams over the "past few days" in regards to a potential sign-and-trade. There were reports of a potential sign-and-trade deal being discussed earlier in the week, but this report states that the team wouldn't agree to it.

If nothing can be done regarding a long-term deal or even a sign and trade, Stuckey could accept the one-year, $3.87 million qualifyingoffer from the team, and play on it, becoming a free agent next season and forcing the Pistons to continue without him, while not receiving any compensation. 

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Guard-Forward Damien Wilkins Signs With Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have announced that they've officially signed guard-forward Damien Wilkins on Friday. There's no news yet on the terms of the deal, as they have not been disclosed by the team. Wilkins is 31 years old, and most recently played for the Atlanta Hawks, appearing in 52 games last season, averaging 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds, with exactly 13 minutes per game average. He averaged only 1.8 points, 1 rebound and 4.9 minutes in eight playoff appearances with the Hawks.

Wilkins, undrafted coming out of the University of Georgia, has played for Atlanta, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Seattle, averaging 6.8 points a game, 2.6 rebouns and 1.5 assists over his 442 career games overall. He's played, through the course of his career, an average of 20 minutes per game. His best season is far behind him though, back in 2007-08 when he averaged 9.2 points a game with Seattle. He notched his 2,000th career point three years ago in 2008.

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Detroit Pistons Free Agency Rumors: Team Signs Damien Wilkins

Shortly after details emerged on Richard Hamilton's buyout, the Pistons announced that they signed tweener journeyman Damien Wilkins. Here's the press release from the team: 

The Detroit Pistons announced today that they have signed guard-forward Damien Wilkins. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wilkins, 31, appeared in 52 games for the Atlanta Hawks last season averaging 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game. He appeared in eight postseason contests with the Hawks, averaging 1.8 points and 1.0 rebounds in 4.9 minutes per game. The seven-year NBA pro has career averages of 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 20.0 minutes in 442 games with Seattle, Oklahoma City, Minnesota and Atlanta. Undrafted out of the University of Georgia, Wilkins enjoyed his best season a pro with Seattle in 2007-08 when he averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 76 games (31 starts). He scored a career-high 41 points with a season-high nine rebounds at Atlanta (11/16) that season in addition to notching his 2,000th career point vs. Phoenix (3/19/08).

Wilkins is the son of 13-year NBA veteran Gerald Wilkins and nephew of Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins.

Matt Watson of Detroit Bad Boys weighs in with his thoughts on the signing: 

He's a typical back-of-the-rotation player who does a little bit of everything, nothing particularly well. On the flip-side, he's entering his eighth year after going undrafted, so I'm guessing he has a solid work ethic. You need bodies to fill out a roster, and if he can bring some scrappy professionalism to the locker room, I don't see the harm, so long as he's not taking too many minutes from younger players.

For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys.

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Richard Hamilton's Buyout In Neighborhood Of $8 Million

Yesterday the Detroit Pistons announced that they were going to buy out 12-year veteran Richard Hamilton from his contract, effectively making him available to be signed by another team. Today, Pistons beat reporter Vincent Goodwillconfirmed from sources the specifics of the buyout: 

John Hollinger says that the savings are more than he expected and that if the Pistons choose to use their amnesty on someone like Ben Gordon, they could be major players in next summer's free agency. It's being reported that Rip Hamilton is already near a deal with the Chicago Bulls.

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Jonas Jerebko's 4-Year Deal Worth $18 Million

The Pistons officially announced the re-signing of Jonas Jerebko yesterday and he was at the team's first practice in the evening. It was first announced that the restricted free agent would re-sign on Thursday. 

The first report pegged Jerebko's contract being worth $16 million, but as it turns out, that was incorrect and Jerebko was inked to an $18 million deal, which also includes a player option for his fourth season. Jerebko is very satisfied to be back with the Pistons and is excited about helping the team get back to its respectable self: 

"To be a part of the Pistons' future, I'm very happy, to say the least," he said. "I knew the Pistons wanted to keep me and I wanted to stay and we worked out a deal." 

"I'm gonna contribute and we're gonna work hard," he said. "We're gonna get some wins."

For more analysis on the Detroit Pistons, check out SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys.

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NBA Free Agents 2011: Pistons Consider Re-Signing Rodney Stuckey

The Detroit Pistons opened training camp on Friday with some noticeable differences in their backcourt depth.  Rip Hamilton was not expected, of course, going through a contract buyout that will free the long-time Piston to seek employment elsewhere.

Also missing was Rodney Stuckey who is heading into his fifth NBA season as a restricted free agent. There has been speculation that the versatile guard may be a sign-and-trade candidate for the Pistons if he is offered a deal elsewhere to rich for the Pistons to match.

But with the Hamilton situation cleared up, Joe Dumars is reportedly focusing on resolving Stuckey's situation with the team. It appears the market for Stuckey may be favorable enough for the Pistons to bring him back to give the team's backcourt more experience to play along with rookie Brandon Knight.

The situation should be resolved soon considering the Pistons, along with the rest of the NBA, have such a short time to prepare for the upcoming season. If Stuckey is going to play a part for the Pistons this year, he needs to get in camp and begin working with the team again.

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NBA Rumors: Ben Wallace 'Giving Everything' To Return To Pistons

Four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace was at the Pistons' first training camp practice on Friday and sounds like he's ready to commit to return for his 16th season in the league [via MLIVE]:

"Oh no, I'm here," Wallace said. "I'm giving everything I got. At the end of the day, if that's good enough to play on this team, or if I have to sit on the sideline and be a great teammate, that's what I'm going to do."

Wallace, who is due a little over $2 million for this season, is giving every indication that he's ready to play out the final year of his contract. It probably helps that he was impressed with new head coach Lawrence Frank: 

"I think he did a great job. He commanded everybody's attention," Wallace said. "He came out and did what he had to do and I think everyone responded to him really well. He brought a lot of energy to the team and stepped up and took a leadership role."

Given everything that happened last year with former head coach John Kuester, one can't imagine Wallace wanting to return if Frank didn't give off a good first impression. 

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Jonas Jerebko Set To Re-Sign With Pistons On 4-Year Deal, According To Report

After news that Tayshaun Prince agreed to remain with the Detroit Pistons on a four-year, $27 million deal, Larry Lage is reporting on Twitter that the team will also bring back Jonas Jerebko on a four-year deal. Jerebko's deal is reportedly for $16 million over the length of the deal. He was a restricted free agent coming into this offseason, and missed all of last season with an Achilles tendon tear, sustained in the preseason opener.

Detroit is banking on him being 100% recovered to hopefully build on what was a strong 2009, when he averaged 9.3 points and six rebounds in each game, while starting 73 of them. Jerebko was a rookie that year, after being drafted by Detroit in the second round. There's been plenty of reports stating that Jerebko looks good during workouts, being spotted at both the Pistons' practice facility on Wednesday and last week, at Attack Athletics.

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Tayshaun Prince Signs New 4-Year Contract With Pistons, According To Report

After some initial doubt that he would be re-signing this season, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported early on Thursday that Tayshaun Prince re-signed with the Detroit Pistons on a four-year deal. The deal is reportedly worth $27 million over those four years, and that keeps Prince where he's played his entire career. Many expressed dis-belief that the ten-year Piston was actually going to be on the outside looking in for the first time in his career, and others felt odd, but were OK with the thought.

Detroit is rebuilding right now, and many thought there wouldn't be room to bring Prince back for a short deal, let alone one that will take him into his fourteenth season in the NBA. Outside of his appearance on Team USA in the Beijing Olympics, Prince has only worn Pistons blue in his professional career. More details on the contract should be coming out in the coming days.

Prince was on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for 2005, '06, '07 and '08.

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Detroit Pistons Free Agency Rumors: Rodney Stuckey A Sign-And-Trade Candidate

NBA free agency begins on Friday and the Detroit Pistons are remaining relatively quiet on their next step. Detroit is only about $10 million under the league's salary cap, meaning they do not have a whole lot of space free to sign a marquee name. SB Nation NBA writer Tom Ziller thinks the Pistons could possibly sign and trade Rodney Stuckey in his extensive breakdown of their offseason:

There is strikingly little buzz about Stuckey, once the perceived future star of the Pistons. Though Detroit has Knight, Will Bynum, Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon in the backcourt, if the offers are low or nonexistent, the Pistons could keep Stuck and figure it out later. There's little chance that Joe Dumars will let Jonas Jerebko loose; the Swede missed all of 2010-11 after a standout rookie campaign, and while there's interest around the league, Detroit should be in position to keep him.

The Pistons are also unlikely to use their amnesty clause to cut players like Charlie Villanueva or Ben Gordon, meaning there likely won't be any dramatic roster moves.

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Detroit Pistons Rumors: Ben Wallace Still Mulling Return

When team facilities opened after the NBA lockout was resolved, Ben Wallace was the first player to arrive at The Palace.  That shouldn't be a surprise, but the 15 year veteran isn't even sure he'll be a Piston this year. Currently considering retirement, he's working out hard to see if he wants to return to the team where he became a household name for the final year of his contract: 

"I just want to get in the gym a couple of more days, get up and down, pound that hardwood and see what happens on the off days," he said after his second straight day of workouts at the Pistons' practice facility since NBA teams were given the OK to make them available to players. "That's usually when you can tell. If I come in here and go hard for two hours, 2½ hours, go home and can't move the next day, that's not a good sign. But if I can get up and get around and run behind the kids and do my usual, that tells me my body is getting strong."

Wallace is due a little over $2 million for the 2011-2012 season and if he returns, will likely have a handful of planned DNPs due to the grueling, condensed schedule.

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NBA Trade Rumors 2011: Chris Kaman Could Be Part Of Tayshaun Prince Deal

Earlier this week, the LA Times reported that the Los Angeles Clippers could be interested in veteran free agent Tayshaun Prince. As has been the speculated all along, Prince could be involved in a sign-and-trade with the Pistons. If that sign-and-trade is to the Clippers, the Pistons could acquire big man Chris Kaman:

At 31, this is likely the last long-term deal Prince will sign, and he won't command the $11.1 million he made with the Pistons last season, the final season of a five-year deal he signed in 2005. The ideal candidate in a sign-and-trade is Kaman.

Kaman, 29, who attended Central Michigan from 2000-03, went through an injury-plagued season last year with the Clippers, averaging 12.4 points and seven rebounds. The season before, when he played 76 games, he averaged a career-high 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds.

The Clippers are under the salary cap but want to keep restricted free agent DeAndre Jordan, who will command a lot of attention in the abbreviated free-agency period. Jordan plays the same position as Kaman, whom the Pistons would gladly take off the Clippers' hands.

The idea of a "big man" excites a lot of Pistons fans, but Kaman leaves a lot to be desired once you look behind the decorative stats. Hopefully, Kaman-to-Detroit rumors are just reliving old memories and nothing comes to fruition. 

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Detroit Pistons Won't Use Amnesty Clause, According To Report

The Detroit Pistons apparently will not use the amnesty clause this offseason. The clause, included in the new NBA collective bargaining agreement, would allow them to waive one player without him counting toward the salary cap.