HoopsHype.com Rumors

Mark Deeds: Three incidences of unsurprising news here: Aaron Gray, Linas Kleiza and Charlie Villanueva have all opted in for next season. Twitter @MarkDeeksNBA

Linas Kleiza, Charlie Villanueva, Aaron Gray 

Rodney Stuckey's $8.5 million contract for 2013-14 can be bought out for $4 million. Viacheslov Kravtsov's $1.5 contract can be bought out for $500,000. Charlie Villanueva's $8.58 million contract is the only one on the team that's amnesty-eligible. Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva, Rodney Stuckey, Vyacheslav Kravtsov 

Charlie Villanueva laughed when asked about his future with the Detroit Pistons. Specifically, he was asked if he was going to pick up the final season of the five-year, $35-million deal he signed in the summer of 2009. He has the option of declining the $8.5-million player option by June 30 and becoming an unrestricted free agent. Villanueva, 28, said there’s no decision. “It’s obvious what I’m going to do,” Villanueva told the Free Press before the Pistons topped the Bobcats on Tuesday night. “Would you let that money go?” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Free Agency, Charlie Villanueva 

Vincent Goodwill: CV about the trade deadline: "Guys have been talking about it, for sure. Not saying any names but yeah, guys talk about it." #Pistons Twitter @vgoodwill

Detroit Pistons, Trade, Charlie Villanueva 

Vincent Ellis: Asked CV had he thought about that 8.5 mill player option. He said: "You know what I'm going to do. Think I'm going to leave that money?" Twitter @Vincent_Ellis56

Detroit Pistons, Free Agency, Charlie Villanueva 

If the Pistons can off-load Rodney Stuckey and his $8.5 million team option for next season or Charlie Villanueva and his $8.5 million team option for next season before the trade deadline they could add to that number significantly. League sources peg Stuckey as the easiest chip to move and there is a belief that Detroit is more than open to a deal involving one or both. HoopsWorld

Detroit Pistons, Trade, Charlie Villanueva, Rodney Stuckey 

Charlie Villanueva was a little embarrassed at the topic. The subject was his free-throw shooting and how a guy with a career 78% shooting percentage can scuffle at a 32% clip. Friday night, he had to suffer through the ignominy of Cavs coach Byron Scott going to the Hack-A-Charlie strategy in the fourth quarter of the Pistons' 117-99 victory. Villanueva shot 3-for-8 to actually raise his free-throw average, but Villanueva just shook his head Saturday when asked about it. "Wow, that's disrespectful by Byron Scott," Villanueva said jokingly. "By the numbers, good move. "It's just one of those years where I can't make free throws. I haven't gotten (many) attempts. That was crazy, though. That was crazy how he pulled that card out." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

A story written by Swedish writers while Jerebko was in London quoted the forward's father, Chris, and the Swedish national team manager, Jonte Karlsson, concerning his current nonrole on the team. Jerebko has been out of the rotation since November. The story offered the theory that the Pistons were showcasing Austin Daye and Charlie Villanueva for a possible trade, which seems unlikely. "You do not sell a player and get rid of his contract if he is sitting on the bench," Karlsson was quoted in the story. Before Tuesday's game against Orlando, Jerebko said: "I didn't read the story, so I don't know what it said. Everybody has a right to their own opinion. It's media. They probably twisted it." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Trade, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko 

Charlie Villanueva: I was ask today, if I was going to be in the 3pt Contest? I don't know it's up to the league, but that will be a easy win :) Twitter @CV31

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

Charlie Villanueva appeared stunned when told that Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas labeled him a “dirty player.” Villanueva then started to explain his side in the hard foul against Thomas in Tuesday night’s Pistons victory that resulted in an ejection and fine. He also took a few jab at Thomas, a second-year player. “Dirty player? Not at all,” Villanueva said. “He saw an open lane, I tried to block the ball and he’s 4-foot-11, a 100 pounds wet so he looks bad. I’m not a dirty player. I didn’t try to hurt him at all.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Charlie Villanueva, Isaiah Thomas 

Thomas is actually listed at 5-9 and 185 pounds, but Villanueva continued. “He has less than 100 games? I didn’t even know that. He was a rookie last year? I didn’t even know that. Shows how much I know about him,” Villanueva added. “I’m definitely not a dirty player. I know a lot of people that would testify to that.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Charlie Villanueva, Isaiah Thomas 

You kind of knew this was coming — once Charlie Villanueva was ejected for a flagrant two foul on the Kings’ Isaiah Thomas Tuesday night you had to expect a fine to follow. It did, the league announced a $25,000 fine for Villanueva on Wednesday. NBCSports.com

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

Charlie Villanueva: detroitnews.com/article/201209… good read, feeling really good about this year and the Detroit Pistons Twitter @CV31

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

After the disappointment of last season, one marred by injuries and inactivity, it was clear he would have to ratchet up his summer workouts to prepare himself for the competition to earn minutes and finally, live up to the free-agent contract he signed with the Pistons three summers ago. At the suggestion of his financial manager, he found himself at Shut Up and Box in Royal Oak, using unconventional methods that are becoming increasingly popular in NBA circles. "I'd never tried it so I said, 'Why not?'" Villanueva said. "The first time I did it, I was like 'Wow,' I saw how tired I got so fast." Detroit News

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

In the midst of those workouts, his year went from bad to worse upon hearing he was cut from the Dominican Republic National Team. Upon hearing the name of Kentucky and national team coach John Calipari, Villanueva grunted. "The DR thing definitely stung," he said. "That's your country you're representing. They never gave me an opportunity to work out in the first place. I never worked out for these guys, it caught me off guard. I'm reading up on this and I'm like, 'Wow.'" Detroit News

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva, John Calipari, Dominican Republic 

In addition to all of that, there was the penultimate — the whisper that wasn't so quiet from folks who wanted the Pistons to waive him under the amnesty clause, even though it wouldn't have helped the team in free agency. "It burns me up. It just drove me. Instead of being upset, I said, this will pass and I will let my game do the talking," said Villanueva of the sum of everything that's occurred. He shouldn't need much motivation at this point, and he's admitted the past year has humbled him beyond belief. But he says his body feels better than ever and he's ready to change the perception about being a talented underachiever. "Definitely did not expect this. It's been three difficult years, real hard," he said. "They went by fast. "Different situations each time (year). My lowest year was last year by far. At least I played my first two years. Then last year my body couldn't. The lockout played a role in it, not knowing when you'll go back to work. My mindset wasn't the same. Now I know I have to be back Oct. 1." Detroit News

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

But Villanueva, 27, is coming off arguably the toughest year of his professional career, during which he became even more a source of scorn from fans. So some of those lessons learned about coping with adversity probably come in handy. "There are things that happen that sometimes you can't control, and people can't understand that," he said Sunday. "They don't know the whole story, but absolutely I use some of it. "You hear it, but I don't let it affect me. It just drives you to get better. You use it as motivation and carry a chip on your shoulder. That's the approach I'm taking, and I'm just ready to get on the floor." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

He gets the scorn. His salary ($8 million) is the third-highest on the Pistons' payroll, and his performance has gotten progressively worse since he arrived in Detroit. "Since I've been here, have I had career years?" Villanueva said. "Have I had great years? "But I can't worry about people not wanting me here -- people saying that I'm not any good. I know what type of player that I am. ... I'm just going to let my game do the talking." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

The Pistons are pleased with Villanueva's conditioning efforts, and his 6-foot-11 frame looked slim. He has taken up a boxing regimen, and he flew to Orlando recently to practice with the summer-league team. "I'm committed to this organization because they made a commitment to me," Villanueva said of his time in Florida. "It's an opportunity to get better. It's an opportunity to work with the younger guys and the draft picks." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Charlie Villanueva 

Ben Wallace wants to return for his 17th NBA season, but the roster is full. That means a roster spot would have to open up. Villanueva or Austin Daye could be traded to make room for Wallace. Detroit News

Detroit Pistons, Trade, Charlie Villanueva, Ben Wallace, Austin Daye