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24.08.2019 08:14
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons put on a full-court press to recruit Josh Smith when they figured the top two free agents, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, wouldnt be interested in playing in the Motor City. Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars met with Smith for five hours in Los Angeles on July 1 when the NBAs free agency period began. "I was selling, selling hard," Dumars said. And, Smith was buying. The Pistons signed Smith to a $54 million, four-year contract Wednesday, when he raved at a news conference about his long talk with Dumars last week. "I felt comfortable, thats why the meeting lasted so long," Smith said. Smith is the only NBA player to average at least 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal per game since blocks and steals became an official league statistic four decades ago, according to STATS LLC. "Josh was the No. 1 guy we went after in free agency," said Dumars, who also acknowledged talking to free agent Andre Iguodala. "The primary reason for Josh being the No. 1 guy was because of his versatility. Hes a 6-9, athletic forward who can play both positions and at both ends of the floor." Detroit desperately needed to sign one of the top free agents because the franchise is mired in a four-year post-season drought, its longest since missing six straight from 1978 through 1983. Smith expects the Pistons will snap the streak next season. "I feel like we can definitely be a playoff team, and a contender," he said. Dumars, though, isnt ready to say his rebuilding project is complete. "Knowing a little bit about building championships, you know its a long road and you need multiple talented pieces and we just got one talented piece," said Dumars, who won two titles in Detroit as a shooting guard and led the franchise to a third championship from the front office. "By no means are we even remotely proclaiming (were a) championship contender." Next week, the Pistons plan to add depth by signing Italian forward Luigi Datome and re-signing backup point guard Will Bynum. "Well still have about $4 million of cap space left, so well keep working," Dumars said. The Pistons also confirmed Rasheed Wallace has rejoined the team as a first-year assistant coach on Maurice Cheeks staff. "Hes going to motivate guys, hes going to push guys and challenge guys," Dumars said of Wallace, a key player on Detroits 2004 NBA championship team. "We thought that would be great for our young bigs." The Pistons will likely start the 27-year-old Smith in their frontcourt with 23-year-old power forward Greg Monroe and centre Andre Drummond, who turns 20 next in August. The backcourt will include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. "I feel like we can be an elite basketball team," Smith said. Smith led Atlanta with 17.5 points per game last season, averaging 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals. He has played only for his hometown Hawks, who drafted him No. 17 overall out of high school in 2004, but he was ready to move on. "When I first met with Joe, he had me sold from the word go," Smith recalled. "This is an organization that is a successful organization. Ive always wanted to be part of a good organization that has a lot of die-hard fans." Clinton Portis Redskins Jersey . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. DaRon Payne Youth Jersey . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. http://www.redskinsrookiestore.com/Redskins-Dwayne-Haskins-Jersey/ . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Washington Redskins Jerseys . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Art Monk Youth Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick remains mum on his teams quarterback situation ahead of its game against division rival Buffalo this week.Belichick declined to provide updates Monday on the health of Jimmy Garoppolo or rookie Jacoby Brissett, both of whom may be unavailable. Franchise quarterback Tom Brady will be serving the last game of his four-game Deflategate suspension.Belichick wasnt as tight-lipped about facing a challenging Bills rushing attack anchored by four-time Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy.McCoy is as good as it gets, Belichick told reporters in a conference call. The production that he has had is outstanding.McCoy ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns to help Buffalo earn its first win of the season in a 33-18 victory against the Arizona Cardinals.The Bills (1-2) rank eighth in the NFL in rushing yardage (359 total, 119.7 per game) through three games.New Englands running game has proven problematic for opponents as well. The Patriots (3-0) boast the leagues best ground game with 452 total yards, good for an average of 150.7 per game.LeGarrette Blount has carried much of that workload and leads the league in rushing with 298 yards and four touchdowns.Blount raan for 105 yards and two scores in the Patriots 27-0 win against the Houston Texans last Thursday.ddddddddddddI always feel like if we can just get a hole, get him started, get him going, that he has a lot of ability to make yards on his own, Belichick said.Blount may be leaned on heavily once again if Garoppolo and Brissett are sidelined against Buffalo.That would leave the Patriots without a healthy quarterback on their roster.Brady is eligible to return from his suspension on Oct. 9 against the Cleveland Browns.Garoppolo missed the game against Houston with a throwing shoulder injury that occurred during the second quarter of the New Englands contest against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 18.Brissett, the 91st overall pick in this years draft, sustained an apparent thumb injury while making his first career start Thursday against the Texans.The former N.C. State standout scored his first career touchdown on a 27-yard run in the first quarter and finished 11 of 19 for 103 yards passing against the Texans.---AP NFL websites: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' ' |
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