HoopsHype.com Rumors

Alex Kennedy: The Detroit Pistons are working out draft prospects Peyton Siva, Elijah Johnson and Lamont "MoMo" Jones among others tomorrow, per source. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Detroit Pistons, Draft, Elijah Johnson, Peyton Siva, Workouts, Lamont Jones 

On Thursday, Southerland's agent, Mark Bartelstein of Chicago-based Priority Sports, said James Southerland already had eight more visits with NBA teams scheduled. According to Bartelstein, Southerland will work out for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz over the next few weeks. "He's visiting a bunch of teams,'' Bartelstein said. "He's going to be very, very busy.'' The Post-Standard

Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Draft, James Southerland 

If the Wolves stay at No. 9, one league source predicts Saunders will take UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad. Word has it that the Wolves like him. But so does Detroit, and they pick one spot ahead of the Wolves. 1500 ESPN

Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, Draft, Shabazz Muhammad 

On the other hand, sources say Dumars' top two choices are Nate McMillan and Maurice Cheeks. Dumars also was hoping to make his hire before last week's NBA draft combine in Chicago, the sources indicated. ESPN.com

Detroit Pistons, Maurice Cheeks, Coaching, Joe Dumars, Nate McMillan 

It's a poorly-kept secret that Dumars did not hire the Pistons' last coach, Lawrence Frank. While Dumars wanted Mike Woodson, Gores, after just purchasing the team, pegged Frank for the job. ESPN.com

Detroit Pistons, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Joe Dumars, Lawrence Frank 

It is not one of the sexier jobs available, but many executives around the league are eager to see what happens with the Detroit Pistons' head-coaching vacancy. That's because the Pistons' hire will be a tell-tale sign of how much power truly remains in the hands of franchise icon, and current president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars. ESPN.com

Detroit Pistons, Coaching, Joe Dumars 

Some executives still insist that Dumars is running the Pistons' coaching search and that he would walk away before staying on as a president in name only. Others are taking a wait-and-see approach, and they view Detroit's upcoming hire as the best evidence. ESPN.com

Detroit Pistons, Coaching, Joe Dumars 

Some executives still insist that Dumars is running the Pistons' coaching search and that he would walk away before staying on as a president in name only. Others are taking a wait-and-see approach, and they view Detroit's upcoming hire as the best evidence. If Jackson has his way, the prevailing thought around the league is that his protégé Brian Shaw will wind up with the job. Shaw, an associate head coach with the Indiana Pacers, is one of the most respected assistants in the league. He played for Jackson's Los Angeles Lakers during their first three-peat (2000-2002) and then served as an assistant coach under Jackson for many years. ESPN.com

Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Joe Dumars 

Marc J. Spears: Nate McMillan has interviewed for coach openings with the Pistons & Bucks and had a phone interview with the Hawks, a source tells Y! Sports Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Nate McMillan 

Lost in the hype of the NBA draft lottery, Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars made his first public comments about legendary coach Phil Jackson’s short-term consulting role with the Pistons’ coaching search. “He was in town for a couple of days,” Dumars said during the teleconference after the Pistons learned they would have the eighth selection in the draft. “We spent a lot time together during those two days, and we’ve have had a couple of conversations since he left town. “While he was here those two days, we talked through (the candidates). And after he left, we’ve had either one or two conversations since then.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Joe Dumars 

The move to bring on Jackson as a consultant is what has raised the most eyebrows. The short-term involvement was characterized as Jackson doing a favor for his friend and Pistons owner Tom Gores. As far as the coaching search, Dumars said: “We will do a hell of a due diligence on our next coach. We're not going to drag this out. Tom and I have talked about this, and we want to turn this over as quick as possible.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Joe Dumars, Tom Gores 

The Pistons coaching search seems like it's dragging on, a small hallmark of the Tom Gores regime, one that wants to thoroughly evaluate every possible candidate, paying no mind to time. But as the Pistons concluded their interview with Oklahoma City assistant Maurice Cheeks Wednesday, their first face-to-face meeting after phone conversations while the Thunder were still in the playoffs, it appears they won't be bringing in any more candidates, a source tells The Detroit News. Detroit News

Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Maurice Cheeks, Coaching 

It's a timetable that doesn't have a lead candidate, although one can surmise Nate McMillan, former coach of the Seattle Supersonics and Portland Trail Blazers, has the best resume. His Portland teams averaged 50 wins in his last three full seasons there, after the franchise recovered from the "Jail Blazers" era of the early 2000s. Detroit News

Detroit Pistons, Coaching, Nate McMillan 

Jackson said he would be open to taking a front office position in the NBA but is not actively pursuing that either as he considers offers that come his way. Jackson is currently working as an adviser to Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores as he tries to find a new coach for his team. "I don't feel the ultimate urge to go back and be in management either. Mentoring is something that I feel is good. I'm doing pro-bono work for the Detroit owner and the Pistons organization, which is almost a conflict of interest when you think of the Bulls and Pistons in the '90s and the rivalry that we had. But they have a young owner that wants to do something different." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Vincent Goodwill: Mo Cheeks will have another interview with the #Pistons today, according to sources Twitter @vgoodwill

Detroit Pistons, Maurice Cheeks, Coaching 

As expected, Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva has picked up his $8.5-million option for next season. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

David Mayo: Dumars said he'll take a big at No. 8 for #Pistons if the pool of wings is depleted. Twitter @David_Mayo

Detroit Pistons, Draft, Joe Dumars 

David Mayo: Dumars: #Pistons want a coach before July 1 free agency; have interviewed many more than reported, not just ex-players. Happy at No. 8. Twitter @David_Mayo

Detroit Pistons, Coaching, Joe Dumars 

The Detroit Pistons announced today that Andre Drummond will be their representative at the NBA draft lottery Tuesday in New York. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN at 8 p.m. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Draft, Andre Drummond 

Going through the rigorous interview process for the NBA draft combine can be stressful enough without having a team play what can be perceived as mind games to boot. That seems to be what the Pistons did with former Indiana guard Victor Oladipo during their interview, but Oladipo called the experience "one of the best interviews I've been on." The Pistons' front office sat in a room with Oladipo and the crew acted as if he wasn't there, speaking honestly and candidly about Oladipo's game, what they loved, liked and thought he needed to work on. "It was really cool, I'd never been a part of anything like that," Oladipo said after he finished the draft interviews with media on Friday. Detroit News

Detroit Pistons, Draft, Victor Oladipo