What I am about to write you aren't going to find in the Freep or DetNews in all likelyhood you may not see covered period by our local media.

First for the last month or so Joe has had scouts heavily checking out NBDL talent to make sure that there isn't a guy out there that could help the Pistons better than Acker. Now Joe really likes Acker no question however given the progress of Delfino and Evans at SG coupled with LH soon to be returning Acker realistically has no future with the team at leats for this year. So if a better player long term or short term could be added he would release Acker.

One player that caught Joe's attention is John Lucas III, he was close to coming to a decision about signing Lucas and cutting Acker last week but before he could Houston signed him. Well today Lucas was cut today by Houston. So maybe Joe takes another hard look.

The second player is Fred Hoiberg who was cleared to play or resume any baskeball related activites he wants by his doctors yesterday. Over a month ago Fred Hoiberg reportedly asked his doctors for a name of a specialist they would recommend from the Detroit area. I doubt he plans on wintering here without a good reason, unless Minny has becomes overcrowded.

I am not saying that either of these guys are a sure thing to land on the Pistons' roster. What I am saying is Joe has had his eye on both of these guys at one point or another and it is possible for them to land here.

I would say Hoiberg is far more likely than Lucas IMO because Hoiberg if is healthy he could add that punch we have been missing since JB left.

Hoiberg is a good defender too isnt he? I know he shoots the three really well. And he did play under Flip. So I can see why he would want to come here. However, he did have some sort of heart surgery and that scares me, as it should him too.

He is a decent defender. He is not going to shut down anybody like a Bowen or Hassell but he can hold his own in small stretches. His heart was a concern but he has passed every medical test with flying colors they even held off one his last test by a month which was longer than he needed. The doctors are confident the problems is fixed and he should have no set backs if he choses to play this year.

I don't see us making any such move right now. The Pistons see Acker every day in practice so I guess they'll best know what they have there, but I can't see cutting Acker for Hoiberg, unless they are making the move just to block another contender - read Miami - from getting him. Miami does need a back-up for Dwyane Wade and do need a three point assassin in the worst way. Hoiberg would be solid insurance in the very least and a wily vet on our bench. Shit, I think I talked myself into the move...

Assuming we add Hoiberg, we'd have 13 veteran players and a 12 man playoff roster. Assuming Max and Johnson are already discounted, Milicic wouldn't be an option as you'll need the fifth bigman. One of Hunter, Arroyo, Evans, Delfino or Hoiberg would be on the outside looking in as well...

I like what you mention about Hoiberg. If he can come off everything well then I think he would be a phenominal addition.

However, I love Acker. I have seen him put a lot of work on guys like Hunter and Arroyo in 3v3 drills and personally I like the fact that he is on our team. The guy can shoot and rebound great for a player his size and he seems to defense very very well.

Again, I dont see him playing 5v5 fullcourt, but 3v3 drills usually against Hunter and Arroyo and the kid holds his own to say the least

MUHME - Sorta off-topic, but how does Amir Johnson look? Is he putting on any weight/muscle?

The deal with Acker is that he will not help us this season, whereas Hoiberg could hurt us in Miami. I can't see us keeping Arroyo past this season, as he makes too much money for the 12 minutes he gives us a game. Also Hunter could retire, like has been rumored for the the past couple of years. We'll need a couple of point guards next year. Now the Pistons cannot be completely in love with Acker if they are looking at Lucas. However why wouldn't they send down Acker to see what he'd learned and what he looks like compared to Lucas and others against the same level of competition??

Not completely off-topic but how does the NBDL work this year?? Can teams call-up players from unaffiliated teams and if they decide to keep them, can they send them to the NBDL - and if so which team would the go to??

Not completely off-topic but how does the NBDL work this year?? Can teams call-up players from unaffiliated teams and if they decide to keep them, can they send them to the NBDL - and if so which team would the go to??

Teams can't call up players from teams they are not affiliated with. They can only send down (and call up) their own players to the NBDL team they are associated with.

Not completely off-topic but how does the NBDL work this year?? Can teams call-up players from unaffiliated teams and if they decide to keep them, can they send them to the NBDL - and if so which team would the go to??

Teams can't call up players from teams they are not affiliated with. They can only send down (and call up) their own players to the NBDL team they are associated with.

By call up I meant sign to a 10-day contract like in the old days. JS said Detroit was looking at Lucas. Now if we dropped Acker and signed Lucas on for the remainder of the season, what team would we send him to in the NBDL?

If we signed Lucas, we would send him to our NBDL team, the Fayetteville Patriots.

MUHME - Sorta off-topic, but how does Amir Johnson look? Is he putting on any weight/muscle?


Well I see him going against Maxiell, Darko and Dale when he is playing. I like his game and I think he has a chance to be solid. He has great post moves and he hits the glass hard. He is so young though. Maxiell and Dale sort of go to work on the kid but you can tell when you are watchin him (amir) that he is just unpolished however I get the feel that he wants to be good. If I had no idea about the players on the team I would say hands down he is better than Darko. Johnson shows a WANT at practice, he hustles and he does not show the lazy streak that Darko shows.

The one thing that I did notice is that he has a slow and LOW release point with his jumper. He is accurate as hell and has a nice touch...but I would think the coaches have to address that if he wants a chance in the league

If we signed Hoiberg, does that mean we put Darko inactive for the playoffs?

Johnson really didn't have a jumpshot going into the draft he was used to getting by with dunks and put backs.

So for him to even have an accurate shot or any shooting ability has to viewed as a plus. Plus he was used to playing PF so I am impressed he has shown the basketabll IQ to change his game.

This is what they said prior to the draft about him.

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=293

He seems to be coming along nicely. Dare I say he is 18 y/o a prospect who gets it?

Do you think we would send Acker to Fayetteville once Hunter is healthy enough to play?

Joe doesn't like the NBDL's setup right now so I doubt it.

Next year he may feel different because there will be 1 NBDL team for every 2 NBA teams. Teams will likely be able to send or assign coaches to their affilate.

Also as part of the expansion concept they are going to try to match up 2 NBA teams with similar schemes or styles so that the teaching is benifical.

So for example if Minny and Detroit run a similar offense we may be partnered together.The only flaw in that is coaches are so disposable in today's game that when a coach is fired the partnering according to style becomes moot.

JS, how did you get this information?

I dont know how Lucas looked with Houston. I think he played one game or so and got 2 points. Hoberg would be a huge gamble IMO. He has a nice shot and he plays good enough D but i dont want him to be injured, and especially on the Pistons.

He could tell you, but then he'd have to kill you. Let's just say he has sources and they are legit.

Lucas is a small point guard, so unless he quicker than a hiccup with good defense, I don't understand why we'd be interested in this guy. I could understand not needing a 4th point guard with Hunter coming back, but why replace Acker with another point guard?? Hoiberg makes so much more sense.

Hoiberg in Miami is not something I want to see as a Piston fan...

Hoiberg in Miami is not something I want to see as a Piston fan...

Miami could use a back-up for Wade and they lack three point shooting, so it would be good addition for them. I would sign Hoiberg just to keep him away from the Heat.

I think that the Pistons were looking at Lucas to be a change of pace guard. This is just strictly my opinion but I think if we signed him and Joe thought he could play it would probably mean Arroyo is on the block.

I know that sounds dumb but it goes back to my point about Arroyo when LH gets back. Arroyo is likely the odd man out of the rotation because LH can do more than Arroyo. Arroyo doesn't do anything on the court they calls for him to play all the time. So if you were going to use a 3rd PG sparingly it would make sense to have that 3rd PG be a change of pace guy.

Like I said before though I think if a move is going to be made it would be for Hoiberg.

Let's face it would make more sense risk or no risk to sign Hoiberg. It's not like Acker is contributing outside of practice. Hoiberg wouldn't have to rush back he could easily get into game shape over the next two months and be ready for the playoffs. It's not like Flip doesn't know what he can do, he has had him before.

Plus the upside of Hoiberg is it makes our line up more versatile come playoff time. I mean if you have a team we are playing with heavy front court depth, you insert Darko or Maxiell depending on each's play. If they are playing a team with a deeper in backcourt you could activate Hoiberg in place of frontcourt player.

Or if by some miracle we play Miami in the late rounds you can adjust game to game to focus on either Shaq or Wade.

I could see Hoiberg here, but only after a move with Evans or Delfino.

Those three guys on the roster is too much duplication IMO, and there is not enough minutes for them to share.

Could this be a precursor to a Darko deal?

If Darko/Delfino go somewhere for a legit SF to backup Tay, then PT for Hoiberg opens up.

I was just about to say what Glenn did. Hoiberg does the same type of things Evans does, with less hops. I wouldn't mind him if Evans/Delfino were moved in a deal, but not otherwise.

Plus the upside of Hoiberg is it makes our line up more versatile come playoff time. I mean if you have a team we are playing with heavy front court depth, you insert Darko or Maxiell depending on each's play. If they are playing a team with a deeper in backcourt you could activate Hoiberg in place of frontcourt player.

Or if by some miracle we play Miami in the late rounds you can adjust game to game to focus on either Shaq or Wade.

Wait a minute- are you saying that we can adjust our playoff roster round by round?? Even game by game?? That's the first time I heard this. That's a huge change, a good one, if true. I was under the belief that while the regular season IR changed to active/inactive, that the play-offs would remain the same - with one set 12-man playoff roster.

I was just about to say what Glenn did. Hoiberg does the same type of things Evans does, with less hops. I wouldn't mind him if Evans/Delfino were moved in a deal, but not otherwise.

Bringing in Hoiberg keeps him out of Miami. We don't need him and I'd pass on him if Miami didn't need him, but he is exactly what Miami needs and thus I'd sign him just to run interference.

Doesn't Hoiberg just steal minutes from Posey? If that is the case, let them. Posey is a solid defender/rebounder and I'd rather them bench him. Then maybe they'll all stand around watching Shaq and Wade.

I think Posey is purely a SF in Miami, whereas Hoiberg would be a SG back-up for Wade. I don't know who is backing up Wade right now, I believe Payton actually...