Detroit Pistons year in review: 2013

Plenty of websites do a Year in Review at this time, and PistonPowered didn’t want to be left out. But we pride ourselves on being ahead of the curve, so we’re not looking back on 2012. We’re looking back on 2013, and what a year it was.

Jan. 1: The Pistons ring in the new year with a victory over the Kings. By winning three straight this season, Detroit joins an exclusive club that already includes 26 other teams.

Jan. 17: Playing the Washington Generals to the Knicks’ Harlem Globetrotters, the Pistons lose in London.  Austin Daye decides he doesn’t like British food and loses eight pounds during the trip.

Jan. 31: The NBA All-Star teams are announced, and no Pistons make it. Unlike last year when Greg Monroe was a near-equal to Roy Hibbert, nobody really complains. Except one guy who whines that the league is only about stars and hates Detroit. There’s always that guy.

Feb. 1: Jason Maxiell suffers a leg injury against the Cavaliers that will cause him to miss two games.

Feb. 3: Andre Drummond makes his first start.

Feb. 6: Maxiell returns and scores 10 points off the bench. After the game, Lawrence Frank says Drummond will remain in the starting lineup as long as he merits the spot.

Feb. 8: Before the game, Frank answers the last question he’ll ever face about Drummond starting. With a 12-point, nine-rebound, two-block game against the Spurs that night, Drummond fully entrenches himself as a starter to the point nobody brings up the topic again.

Feb. 21: The trade deadline passes without the Pistons making a deal. A report will later surface that the Pistons were really, really, really, really close to a trade this time, they promise. According to the report, the Pistons offered Rodney Stuckey for DeMarcus Cousins and Francisco Garcia, and the Kings countered with John Salmons for Corey Maggette.

April 7: The Pistons lose to the Bulls and are officially eliminated from playoff contention.

April 10: Pistons beat the Cavaliers.

April 12: Pistons beat the Bobcats.

April 15: Pistons beat the 76ers.

April 17: Pistons beat the Nets, finishing the season on a four-game win streak and with a 32-50 record.

April 18: Joe Dumars says Lawrence Frank will return for a third season. I write a post explaining that Dumars has repeatedly said coaches will keep their job and then firing them days later.

April 19: Dumars meets with the media and reiterates Frank will keep his job. Dumars also says how unacceptable this season was.

May 2: Andre Drummond finishes third in Rookie of the Year voting behind winner Damian Lillard and runner-up Anthony Davis. The placement seems about fair – though Drummond could make a case over Davis and has better per-minute numbers than Lillard.

May 6: Drummond receives a two All-Defensive second-team votes.

May 21: Continuing a tradition, last year’s lottery pick represents the Pistons at this year’s lottery. Andre Drummond brings a lucky penguin toy, but Mumble doesn’t bring the Pistons good fortune. Seeded sixth, they stay at the sixth pick.

June 27: The Pistons draft Shabazz Muhammad, who inexplicably slips when the Cavaliers reach for Tony Mitchell to prove they’re smarter than everyone else and the Kings draft Otto Porter to attempt to add character to their locker room. I write a post arguing Muhammad has some tendencies that could cause major trouble down the road, mainly his need to be a high-volume shooter, but because he’s so talented and potentially such a good fit, the Pistons are very fortunate to draft him. Some commenters bash me for being a hater. Others bash me for not concluding Muhammad’s advanced stats during one season playing for Ben Howland, who’s notorious for making future NBA players look subpar, ensure Mohamed will be a bust. Everyone agrees I’m an idiot.

June 30: Pistons let the deadline pass to extend Austin Daye a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

July 1: The Pistons agree to terms with O.J. Mayo on a four-year, $48 million contract with a player option for the fourth year – just in case Mayo decides he doesn’t want to make $12.75 million in 2016-17.

July 3: Chris Paul re-signs with the Clippers, and a annoyingly vocal segment of fans complain the Pistons didn’t sign him instead of Mayo.

July 4: Josh Smith re-signs with the Hawks, and the Pistons begin to leak how much they like Charlie Villanueva and brag about all the trade offers they got for him three years ago.

July 15: The deadline passes without the Pistons amnestying Villanueva.

Oct. 1: Pistons open training camp with 16 players, including training-camp invite Terrence Williams.

Oct. 21: Pistons cut Terrence Williams

Dec. 6: Austin Daye scores 21 points to lead the Hornets over Detroit.

Dec. 13: Pistons fire Lawrence Frank after a 6-18 start. Brian Hill is named interim coach.