Detroit Free Press

Before she decided to pursue a career in politics, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had dreams of being a sports broadcaster. She has long been a fan of sports, and briefly played basketball while attending high school. On Monday, Whitmer got to live out her sports dream in a different way. The Detroit Pistons hosted her at

The Detroit Pistons selected Cade Cunningham on Thursday, and for that reason alone, their 2021 NBA draft haul will be viewed as a rousing success. But they also had three second-round picks, and ended up using all three, along with trading a starter from last season’s team. Here’s how their draft class grades out. No.

Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Pistons take Cade Cunningham No. 1 in 2021 NBA draft The Detroit Pistons drafted Cade Cunningham, the former Oklahoma State star. The Free Press’ Omari Sankofa II and Tyler Davis discuss what’s next. Omari Sankofa II and Tyler J. Davis, Detroit Free Press Being a sports fan in Detroit has

After a busy 2021 NBA draft, the Detroit Pistons have agreed to a two-way deal with UCLA wing Chris Smith, according to ESPN early Friday morning. Smith, a 6-foot-9 senior, averaged 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and two assists before tearing the ACL in his left knee during the team’s eighth game last season. Despite the loss, the Bruins made

Sean Merriman |  Special to Detroit Free Press The Detroit Pistons were busy in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft. After getting Cade Cunningham No. 1 overall, the Pistons picked up Michigan basketball’s Isaiah Livers, Iowa center Luka Garza and Florida State center Balsa Koprivica in Round 2. Here’s what the ESPN draft

Troy Weaver promises he didn’t decide until Thursday morning who to take with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. It really was that close. Turns out the talk of smokescreen was just the Detroit Pistons general manager turning over every stone. In the end, after almost two months of vetting and studying and contemplating, Weaver

Even though the news has been around for a few hours, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, and the Detroit Pistons made it official. Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State is headed to the Detroit Pistons as the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft. Although it’s not really an earth-shattering announcement, there was still palpable buzz

It appears Cade Cunningham is coming to Detroit … if the Detroit Pistons keep the No. 1 pick. The Pistons are still fielding trade offers for the No. 1 pick, but if they hold on to it, they will select the Oklahoma State standout, sources told the Free Press’ Omari Sankofa. “The team isn’t ruling out

It appears Cade Cunningham is coming to Detroit … if the Detroit Pistons keep the No. 1 pick. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Pistons are still fielding trade offers for the No. 1 pick, but if they hold on to it, they will select Cunningham, the Oklahoma State standout. [ Pistons GM Troy Weaver has earned

One of the gutsiest general managers in the NBA hasn’t decided what to do with the No. 1 pick in Thursday night’s draft. At least that’s what Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver said Tuesday afternoon. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Even if it’s just a smokescreen, a way to ferret out better trade offers. Weaver

Remember when Detroit Pistons fans threw hands with a couple Indiana Pacers? Of course you do. And those too young to remember the “Malice at the Palace” can get a prime look inside one of the wildest — and most violent — endings to an NBA game in league history. A Nextflix docuseries in one of its episodes will feature the Nov.

It may not take much for this offseason to be deemed a successful one for the Detroit Pistons.  Troy Weaver did most of the dirty work last fall, and aggressively pieced together a talented young core the front office believes will bring the franchise back to being a playoff contender. With the No. 1 pick in

It’s the Detroit Pistons‘ night, and everyone is watching. Finally, the long-awaited 2021 NBA draft is here, and the Pistons will be adding a potential franchise changing-talent to the roster. They enter Thursday with the No. 1 pick — they last picked No. 1 overall in 1970, taking St. Bonaventure center Bob Lanier — and it would be a

Troy Weaver’s message two days before the NBA draft is nearly identical to his message on June 22, immediately after the Detroit Pistons won the lottery. Then, he said he saw multiple players worthy of being selected with the No. 1 pick. On Tuesday, he reaffirmed that he hasn’t locked in a decision. Cade Cunningham is

Will it be “Cade SZN” or “trade SZN” for the Detroit Pistons? Or maybe a different option? Troy Weaver, Pistons general manager, likely won’t spill his plan for the top overall pick when he speaks publicly Tuesday ahead of the 2021 NBA draft. But he’s sure to be asked about Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham,

It’s an odd tradition, when you think about it. For decades now, prospective NBA players, once they hear their names called in the draft, have strode up to the stage in their suits to meet the commissioner and don a hat with the logo of their new employer. They’re almost certain not to wear the

Killian Hayes is entering his second season in the NBA, but this is his first real offseason with the Detroit Pistons. He had little time to acclimate himself after becoming the seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft in November, with just 23 days separating the draft and the first preseason game. In a normal year,

Last summer, Troy Weaver took over a Detroit Pistons team in need of an overhaul. He embraced the challenge, leveraging future assets and around $30 million in cap space to transform the roster and bring in a promising core of players to build around. A year later, the franchise is banking on Jerami Grant, Killian Hayes,

“I love Detroit.” That’s how the presumptive No. 1 pick of Thursday’s NBA draft, Cade Cunningham, began his response to a question I asked on what he knows about the city that could soon become his new home. The Arlington, Texas native has no obvious ties to Detroit — he was born and raised in

If Cade Cunningham becomes a Detroit Piston on Thursday, he won’t need a full introduction to the city. Cunningham got his initial taste earlier this week, when he flew to Detroit for his pre-draft interview and workout with the team. He attended the Detroit Tigers’ 14-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday, and photos