Mr.Bottomtooth
10-20-2006, 10:04 PM
No surprise: Pistons pick up options for Maxiell, Delfino
Friday, October 20, 2006
By A. Sherrod Blakely
AUBURN HILLS -- Who says the preseason doesn't mean much?
It certainly has for Detroit Piston forwards Jason Maxiell and Carlos Delfino, whose team options were picked up on Friday. That means both players are now signed through the 2007-2008 season.
Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations, said earlier this summer that the Pistons were planning to pick up both players' options before the start of this season.
But if there was any doubt, both promising forwards proved themselves worthy with strong preseason play.
"No question, Maxie showed some great signs, great improvement, and Carlos did the same," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders. "He (Delfino) hasn't shot the ball as well the last couple of games, but overall we're happy with some of the things he's done."
Maxiell, fighting to earn a spot in Detroit's regular rotation, has averaged team-highs in points (14.2) and rebounds (5.4) per game during the preseason. Delfino, who will play behind Tayshaun Prince at small forward, has averaged eight points off the bench while playing 25.2 minutes per game.
Their excellent play had little to do with the team's decision to pick up their options.
"We could have gotten it done the first day of training camp, but we had other pressing stuff going on," Dumars said on Friday. "We like both of them."
Delfino's role with the Pistons was defined before training camp began. When Detroit traded Maurice Evans to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night for their second-round draft pick, Cheick Samb, it was done in part to make sure Delfino would have an opportunity to play significant minutes this season.
That's why the news that the Pistons had picked up his option wasn't surprising.
"It was something everyone expected," Delfino said. "When you get in the NBA, you get drafted, you try to work hard and get the four-year option. I feel good."
So do the Pistons. "We've got confidence in where they're at, and their future," Saunders said.
Friday, October 20, 2006
By A. Sherrod Blakely
AUBURN HILLS -- Who says the preseason doesn't mean much?
It certainly has for Detroit Piston forwards Jason Maxiell and Carlos Delfino, whose team options were picked up on Friday. That means both players are now signed through the 2007-2008 season.
Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations, said earlier this summer that the Pistons were planning to pick up both players' options before the start of this season.
But if there was any doubt, both promising forwards proved themselves worthy with strong preseason play.
"No question, Maxie showed some great signs, great improvement, and Carlos did the same," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders. "He (Delfino) hasn't shot the ball as well the last couple of games, but overall we're happy with some of the things he's done."
Maxiell, fighting to earn a spot in Detroit's regular rotation, has averaged team-highs in points (14.2) and rebounds (5.4) per game during the preseason. Delfino, who will play behind Tayshaun Prince at small forward, has averaged eight points off the bench while playing 25.2 minutes per game.
Their excellent play had little to do with the team's decision to pick up their options.
"We could have gotten it done the first day of training camp, but we had other pressing stuff going on," Dumars said on Friday. "We like both of them."
Delfino's role with the Pistons was defined before training camp began. When Detroit traded Maurice Evans to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night for their second-round draft pick, Cheick Samb, it was done in part to make sure Delfino would have an opportunity to play significant minutes this season.
That's why the news that the Pistons had picked up his option wasn't surprising.
"It was something everyone expected," Delfino said. "When you get in the NBA, you get drafted, you try to work hard and get the four-year option. I feel good."
So do the Pistons. "We've got confidence in where they're at, and their future," Saunders said.