HoopsHype.com Rumors

Frank Isola: Heard Hakeem is working with Andre Drummond. Good. But Amare? He be better off saving his money. (There are rumors Hakeem charges $100,000) Twitter @FisolaNYDN

Detroit Pistons, Hakeem Olajuwon, Andre Drummond 

Adrian Wojnarowski: One of market's most recruited assistant coaches, Detroit's Roy Rogers, is no longer destined for Phoenix, sources tell Y! Nets in play. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Roy Rogers 

However and whenever the Pistons chapter of Joe Dumars' life meets its conclusion, he's already happily at peace. "Why wouldn't I be?" he responded incredulously. "Man, the only thing you can do is invest every ounce of your energy and focus into doing the very best that you can with the resources available. People are going to have their criticisms, their opinions. Writers are going to say whatever they want. I get that. I'm fine with that. If you're not winning, there should be heat on everybody. Man, those are just the rules of the jungle." USA Today Sports

Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars 

The Pistons would like to bring back Calderon in free agency, but don't want to break the bank. News-Herald

Detroit Pistons, Free Agency, Jose Manuel Calderon 

The Pistons haven’t reached the postseason in four seasons, his boss is entering the last season of his contract and owner Tom Gores could be growing impatient with the pace of the rebuild. However, Cheeks’ reputation is high after four seasons on the bench in Oklahoma City under Scott Brooks. And his time around the winning ways of the Thunder — added to his experiences — can give some hope that maybe he is exactly what the Pistons need. “You have to have a coach that makes that connection with today’s player,” Dumars said. “I think that Mo has proven that throughout his career. He’s proven that with Oklahoma City — the ability to connect with today’s player.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Maurice Cheeks, Coaching 

However and whenever the Pistons chapter of Joe Dumars’ life meets its conclusion, he’s already happily at peace. “Why wouldn’t I be?” he responded incredulously. “Man, the only thing you can do is invest every ounce of your energy and focus into doing the very best that you can with the resources available. People are going to have their criticisms, their opinions. Writers are going to say whatever they want. I get that. I’m fine with that. If you’re not winning, there should be heat on everybody. Man, those are just the rules of the jungle.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Maurice Cheeks, Coaching, Joe Dumars 

Detroit Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko was treating the summer like he usually does. Hanging out at the practice facility Thursday morning, he was shooting around with teammates Khris Middleton and Kim English, informally. Then he realized it was time to get formal when new coach Maurice Cheeks walked in. “I had a couple flip-flops on, messing around and he told us, ‘When you’re in there, you’ve got to put in work,’ ” Jerebko said Thursday at the Palace following Cheeks’ introductory news conference. “He told us on Day 1 what he wanted, so I definitely respect that. ... I was encouraged. That’s what you want as a player, you want somebody to tell you what to do. I won’t be wearing my flip-flops out there no more.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Maurice Cheeks, Jonas Jerebko, Kim English, Khris Middleton 

“Whenever we’re in the facility, we’re to be wearing Detroit Pistons stuff,” English said. “There should be a sense of pride putting on those Detroit letters every time you take the court. That was the extent of (the conversation), every time you’re on the court, come to work and be in Detroit stuff.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Maurice Cheeks, Kim English 

“(Cheeks) just commands respect and you have no choice but to respect him,” English said. “It’s the right thing. You want discipline. You want to do everything the right way and, without a doubt, it will be done the right way with coach Cheeks.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Maurice Cheeks, Kim English 

Yahoo Sports reported Friday afternoon that the Nuggets small forward will opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent. The report also lists the Pistons as potential suitors — along with several other teams. The Pistons like the athletic, veteran defender, and he fits the need of a starting-caliber small forward. And they will have the cap space with $20-million-plus to spend. Detroit Free Press

Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Free Agency, Andre Iguodala 

After missing just four of 148 games during his first two NBA seasons, Jerebko saw action in 49 of 82 last season. He played in Detroit's first 13 games before appearing in just one of the next 29 during a span of more than two months. Jerebko finally worked his way back into the rotation in late January, when the Pistons had a 16-26 record and were headed toward another season without tasting the playoffs. "It was tough," Jerebko said. "I'm not going to lie. It was up and down. Got to play at the end of the season and the start of the season ... it was tough. It's behind me now. Looking forward to next season. "I'm just excited." Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Jonas Jerebko 

Today's includes the third player from the University of Detroit Mercy known to have worked out for the Pistons, with Ray McCallum and Doug Anderson the others. It's heavy in forwards, but it ends with a guard who led his team in both scoring and assists. And it begins with a Southfield native: A'ustin Calhoun, PF, 6-7, 232, Bowling Green Robert Covington, SF, 6-7, 210, Tennessee State Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Draft, Workouts, Ray McCallum, Robert Covington 

After superstars Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, Iguodala will be a target for several teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Hornets, league sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Free Agency, Andre Iguodala 

The battles between the Pistons and Bulls came up more than once when Dumars and Jackson spoke. "The things that he and I talked the most about wasn't so much the Piston coaching position," Dumars said. "It was just about coaching in general, his perspective on coaching and coaches in general. It wasn't so much about the Pistons' head job. "We talked about some playoff series that the Pistons and Bulls had. We had some good conversations about that. But it was really about coaching in general. It wasn't about the Pistons job per se." Dumars also spoke with players coached by Cheeks, including former Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, who played for Cheeks in Portland. "He was colorful," Dumars said, drawing a big laugh from media and employees gathered inside The Palace's West Atrium for the announcement. Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Phil Jackson, Maurice Cheeks, Coaching, Joe Dumars 

David Mayo: Journalist-who-remains-unnamed to Joe Dumars on Thursday: "If Stuckey's still here next year you should just get a tattoo of him." Twitter @David_Mayo

Detroit Pistons, Trade, Joe Dumars, Rodney Stuckey 

Vincent Ellis: Other potential suitors for FA #Pistons PG Will Bynum: #Pacers and #Sixers. Twitter @Vincent_Ellis56

Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Will Bynum 

Likely partners are those teams facing onerous luxury tax bills next year. The potential is there to get a good, young veteran from one of those teams. So is he itching to start pitching deals? On the contrary; the talks have already begun. “It’s already started,” Dumars said at the introductory news conference for new coach Maurice Cheeks. “The phone calls for that have already started. The calls have already started because those teams are already facing it.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Free Agency, Trade, Maurice Cheeks, Joe Dumars 

Vincent Ellis: The #Pistons haven't had any workouts for the eight pick yet. Starts next week. Only confirmed workout is Plumlee on June 21st. Twitter @Vincent_Ellis56

Detroit Pistons, Draft, Mason Plumlee, Workouts 

Joe Dumars tried to keep the focus on the Detroit Pistons' latest coaching hire during his session with the media after Maurice Cheeks' formal introductory news conference this morning. That wasn't happening. Instead, Dumars took queries about the Pistons' recent past and future. For the first time, the team's president of basketball operations answered questions about his Pistons mortality and whether his time running the organization he helped earn three championship banners is growing short. "I don't even get into the speculation with me," Dumars said at the Palace of Auburn Hills. "I'll be fine, whatever." USA Today Sports

Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars 

When owner Tom Gores made the decision to fire former coach Lawrence Frank, was Dumars' status discussed? "No, not at all," Dumars said. "The subject never came up. "To be honest with you, I'm not big on the (vote of confidence). That really doesn't apply. We just kind of dug in after the season and started working right away on 'we got to get the next one right.' It wasn't the focus of the conversation, myself, at all." USA Today Sports

Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars