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NBA talk about Detroit Pistons all good: That is big

By Stuart London

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 18: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat and Mason Plumlee #24 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 18: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat and Mason Plumlee #24 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Blake Griffin Derrick Rose Pistons
Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) celebrates with guard Derrick Rose (25). Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Pistons did right to Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose in players minds

Going into the season, the two biggest names on the Detroit Pistons were Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose. They were the players that fans knew. I would say they were the ones people bought tickets to see, if tickets had been allowed to be sold.

But they were the faces of the franchise. Of course, it was a franchise not too interested in winning games this season, as Detroit was looking to the future.

Considering both Griffin and Rose were over 30 and their contracts running out (Rose expired this year, Griffin next), there was not much incentive for either to hang around for long.

Related Story. Detroit Pistons: Small haul but Derrick Rose trade will pay off later. light

But Rose and Griffin played the good soldiers. Neither said a bad word about the organization publicly, they helped mentor the young players and they went and tried on the court when they played (although some are starting to now debate that about Griffin).

And both were rewarded for their efforts:

  • Derrick Rose was traded to the New York Knicks, reuniting with former coach Tom Thibodeau, exactly where he wanted to go.
  • Blake Griffin, after Detroit tried to trade him, was bought out and he was free to sign with any team in the NBA, ending up with the Brooklyn Nets. Again a happy conclusion.

Now, whether fans thought the Pistons got too little in the Rose deal (Dennis Smith Jr., and a second-rounder) or not enough money given up in the Griffin buyout (Detroit saved $13 million but still carry a lot of money from Griffin’s contract into next year), the players were pleased with the result.

And other NBA players were watching. They may someday be in a situation where it would be in their best interests to get out, and they saw that the Pistons treated Griffin and Rose, both highly thought of among NBA players, pretty fairly.

When the Pistons contact agents in the future, thir actions with Griffin and Rose will be a positive in their favor.

But there were a number of other things the Detroit organization did to make themselves more attractive to NBA players:

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